A chapel is a small, simple structure constructed by the practitioners of a faith or religion to provide a meeting and worship space for the congregation. Chapels are about the size of a personal residence, and have similar building and maintenance costs, but are designed and dedicated to worship and reflection under the tenements of the faith practiced within. Often chapels, especially when located in small towns, serve as both the centerpiece of both religious and social life.
Chapels typically contain prominent features specific to the faith such as an altar, images or statues of important religious figures, and artistic concepts of significant scenes. These embellishments tend to reflect the simple nature of the structure itself, often constructed out of wood, plastene, or, for particularly new or ascetic religions, stresscrete. Chapels typically also hold a small office and bedroom for the religious leader. This serves the dual purposes of allowing the congregation to conserve its often meager funds by cheaply housing its local leader and ensuring that the cleric is usually available for immediate access in case he or she is required for spiritual consultation.
Chapels located in any settlement larger than a small town may be insufficient in size to hold all worshipers at once. So, as the congregation grows, several services are administered throughout a given holy day to satisfy the mass of followers. The more formal religions often have some kind of seating arrangement. However, with the wide variety of physiologies among converts, and the desire to fit as many members as possible, chairs are sometimes omitted in favor of a standing-room-only design. This is especially true for religions that emphasize communal participation over structured worship with a designated leader.