proverb · Words worth keeping
Where God hath His church the devil will have his chapel.
Where God hath His church the devil will have his chapel.
Historical period not yet established
Understand the thought
Meaning in plain English
A place dedicated to good can still face an opposing influence. The paired church and chapel give that tension a religious image.
What the words are saying
The saying places an adverse counterpart near a sacred institution, suggesting that a stated good purpose does not remove temptation or conflict. It can invite vigilance about how an organisation actually behaves. Its religious imagery expresses a belief-based interpretation, not evidence that disagreement or another community is evil. A careful application examines concrete actions and safeguards instead of turning opponents into supernatural enemies.
Everyday example
A group with a charitable purpose still checks how decisions are made and whether resources reach the people it aims to serve.
When to use it
Use it to reflect on conflicts that can persist within a worthy undertaking.
What it does not mean
Religious imagery does not establish that another person or group is evil.
Agent-assisted editorial interpretation. This explains the words; it does not by itself verify their author or earliest origin.
Attribution & collection notes
- Author or tradition
- Traditional
Attribution: traditional - Country attributed
- Not established
A country attribution does not establish the earliest origin. - Historical period
- Historical period not yet established
No sufficiently supported historical placement has been established. Import and download dates are not treated as composition dates. - Recorded source
- A Dictionary of English Proverbs and Proverbial Phrases
Entry 256 · Church
A collection's publication date can be later than the words it records.
- Culture
- English