1. Plural of bethel; a chapel or place of worship, especially a nonconformist or dissenting church.
Usage: Often capitalized when referring to a specific church or religious institution; Primarily British usage
2. Plural of bethel; a seamen's chapel or shelter for sailors.
Usage: nautical; historical

Examples

• The town had several bethels where local congregations gathered for worship.
• Many bethels were established in port cities to serve the spiritual needs of sailors.
• The historic bethels of Wales remain important cultural landmarks.
• She attended one of the oldest bethels in the region every Sunday.
• Bethels provided both religious instruction and community support for working-class families.