burst (come apart, fall apart, split) at the seams

[Ivo]

Would you tell me whether I am right about my interpretation of the expressions in bold in the following sentences?

And what kind of parish have you if your church is shopworn and obsolete and falling apart at the seams. (EW. O’Connor, “The Edge of Sadness”)

But also he wanted, unsentimentally and also unquestioningly, out of a desire for comfort as well as piety, to prevent “the place getting uninhabitable” to ensure it “didn’t come apart at the seams.” (C. P. Snow, “The Affair”)

“Fears” that the Conservative Party is “splitting at the seams” have been expressed by the opposition…

burst (come apart, fall apart, split) at the seams = crumble away, crumble to ruin, fall to pieces, turn to dust and ashes

piety = devotion

Thanks for your efforts.

[Our Tort System]

You can find the definitions here and here and here.

I agree with you, except "piety" is defined as "righteousness by virtue of being pious". It's more than just devotion, it's devotion to God.
_________________
If it's not easy, don't do it!
That's how I got where I am.

[Ivo]

Hi Our Tort System,

Thank you for your kind assistance.

Ivo