Bible Encyclopedias
Charnel-House

Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

(med. Lat. carnarium), a place in the neighborhood of a church-yard or other cemetery, usually vaulted, where the dry bones of the dead, which the grave-digger had thrown up, were carefully laid in order. Afterwards a chapel was built over it, wherein interment could be made, monuments erected, and masses, (See CHANTRY), be sung. In this case the "charnel- house" was a vault under the chapel. The chapels of cathedrals sometimes had such charnelhouses under them.

Bibliography Information
McClintock, John. Strong, James. Entry for 'Charnel-House'. Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature. https://www.studylight.org/​encyclopedias/​eng/​tce/​c/charnel-house.html. Harper & Brothers. New York. 1870.