Meaning & Analysis
Wherever a church is built to honor God, the devil will inevitably establish his own place of worship—a chapel—right next to it.
Insights
Inseparability of Good and Evil
The proverb asserts that good and evil are inextricably linked. Every noble intention, virtuous act, or sacred space is invariably accompanied by a corresponding force of corruption, temptation, or opposition.
Critique of Hypocrisy
It serves as a potent metaphor for hypocrisy within religious or moral communities. The 'devil's chapel' represents the insincere faith, hidden sins, and moral corruption that can exist within the very heart of a community dedicated to virtue.
Parasitic Nature of Evil
Evil is depicted not as an independent, creative force, but as a parasitic one. The devil does not build in a vacuum; he builds his 'chapel' in reaction to the 'church,' suggesting that corruption often mimics, distorts, and feeds upon existing structures of good.
Reformation Context
This proverb gained prominence during the Reformation, a period of intense religious conflict. It powerfully articulates the idea that no sacred institution is immune to corruption, reflecting reformers' critiques of the established Church as having been infiltrated by 'diabolical' practices or hypocrisy.
Institutional Corruption
The proverb serves as a timeless commentary on human institutions. Wherever a virtuous or noble enterprise is established, a corresponding negative or corrupting element inevitably emerges, either in opposition or as a parasitic imitation.
Psychological Duality
Psychologically, the proverb illustrates the concept of the 'shadow self'. It suggests that even within the most pious individuals or communities (the 'church'), there exists a 'chapel' of darker impulses, doubts, and temptations that must be acknowledged.
Rhetorical Devices
Antithesis
The proverb is built on the stark juxtaposition of 'God' and 'devil', and 'church' and 'chapel'. This powerful contrast creates a memorable and dramatic statement about moral conflict.
Parallelism
The balanced grammatical structure ('Where X builds Y, Z builds A') creates a rhythmic, memorable, and authoritative tone, making the assertion feel like an undeniable law of nature.
Symbolism
The 'church' and 'chapel' function as potent symbols for organized good and the adjacent, often imitative, presence of evil, translating a complex theological idea into a simple architectural image.
Transcription
Quotations
For commonly, wheresoever God buildeth a church, the devil will build a chapel just by.
Wher God buildes a church, the deuill builds a chaypell.
Hath not the diuell hys Chappell close adioyning to Gods Church?
Where God hath a Church, the Deuill hath a Chappell.
Where God hath his Church, Satan hath his chappell.
A lamentable thing it is to consider, how many myriads of men this Idolatry and Superstition . . hath infatuated . . For where God hath a Temple, the Devil will have a chapel.
No sooner is a temple built to God but the devill builds a chappell hard by.
No sooner is a Church built for God, but the Devil erects a Chappel for himself hard by.
[As in 1640 Herb.]
No sooner is a Temple erected to God, but there's a Chapel built for the Devil.
(the Devil will have his chapel).
(The devil will have his Synagogue).
Annotations
- Note 30, p. 292: The English word is so, Where God builds his Church, the Devil builds his Chapell.
Related Proverbs
Original Scan
Used under CC BY-NC 3.0.