The church of Lelant was rapidly being overpowered by the sand which has swallowed up many ancient Oratories or "cells" built low down on the shore, and it was only saved by the planting and rapid spreading of the coarse rush grass which binds the surface of the towans together in a kind of mat and prevents the sand from drifting.
"Cornwall"
G. E. Mitton
Of the Celtic churches of the north we know but little: it seems likely that they were for the most part plain Oratories of stone or wood, with or without a separate chancel.
"The Ground Plan of the English Parish Church"
A. Hamilton Thompson
Having perhaps seen photographs of the Sacro Monte at Varese, where the chapels climb the hill along with the road, or having perhaps actually seen the Madonna del Sasso at Locarno, where small Oratories with frescoes of the Stations of the Cross are placed on the ascent, he thought those at Varallo might as well remain on the ascent also, and that it would be safe to call them "stations."
"Ex Voto"
Samuel Butler