Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• St Morrills Chappell 1601,1606 Terrier

• the Chap(p)el 1675,c.1700,1705 ib

• the Chapellyarde 1601 ib

Etymology

( lost ) , St Morrills Chappell 1601, 1606Terrier , the Chap (p )el 1675,c.1700, 1705ib ; also the Chapellyarde 1601ib ( v. geard ) , v. chapel(e) and Chapple furlonge , Chappill Hill and Chappel waye in f. ns . ( b ) infra . It is unclear whether St Morrell 's is an earlier dedication for the parish church of St Michael , whether there was a rationalization of Morrel > Michael , or whether St Morrell 's represents a lost chapel of this name in the south of the township ( v. St Michaels Chappell in the forms for StMichael's Church and (at ) St Morrels in f. ns . ( b ) ) . St Morrell is unidentified . His probable association with the sacred Stowe Welle ( v. f. ns . ( b ) infra ) suggests an early Anglo - Saxon origin , with a pers. n. such as Merewala , Merewald or Merewalh . Symeon of Durham in Historia Regum ( completed 1129 ) records an early St Merewald , while Merewala , who was brother of Wulfhere , king of Mercia , advised him to grant lands for the enrichment and glory of St Peter 's Minster at Medeshamstede , now Peterborough ( v. ASC E , s. a. 656 ) . These lands included the very local Bringhurst , Great Easton , Church Langton and the lost Prestgrave ( in Nevill Holt ) , as well as nearby Glaston , Tinwell and Ryhall in Rutland , a grant recorded in a charter of doubtful authenticity of 664 ( BCS 22 (S 68) ) , so that even he may have become venerated . An alternative candidate is St Maurilius of Angers , a 5th - cent. bishop and disciple of St Martin of Tours . The families of the Norman lords of Hallaton originated in the Angers region , Maine - et - Loire , so that the transference to Hallaton of a cult of St Maurilius is possible — but unlikely of popular acceptance . The association of St Morrell with an OE stow also makes this less likely and his sacred well here recalls that of the Anglo - Saxon St Tibba in Ryhall (Ru 164) .