Sarah Mitchell
St. George's Chapel, formally titled The King's Free Chapel of the College of St George, is a castle chapel located in the Lower Ward of Windsor Castle, England. It was founded in the 14th century by King Edward III and extensively enlarged in the late 15th century. The chapel is a Royal Peculiar, a church under the direct jurisdiction of the monarch, and is the Chapel of the Order of the Garter. With its Perpendicular Gothic style of architecture, St. George's Chapel is among the most important medieval chantry foundations to have survived in England. Over the years, it has been the site of numerous royal services, weddings, and burials, including that of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Location | Windsor Castle, England |
| Founding | Founded in the 14th century by King Edward III |
| Construction | Construction began in 1475 by Edward IV and was completed in 1528 by Henry VIII |
| Architecture | Late-medieval Perpendicular Gothic style |
| Significance | One of the most important medieval chantry foundations to have survived in England |
| Purpose | Place of worship for the Royal Family and the local community |
| Events | Royal marriages, burials, and funerals |
| Management | Under the direct jurisdiction of the monarch; run by the dean and Canons of Windsor who make up the College of Saint George |
| Affiliation | Chapel of the Order of the Garter |
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What You'll Learn
St George's Chapel is Anglican
St George's Chapel, formally titled The King's Free Chapel of the College of St George, is located within the grounds of Windsor Castle in the district of Windsor and Maidenhead, Berkshire, England. The chapel was founded in the 14th century by King Edward III and enlarged in the late 15th century. It is a Royal Peculiar, meaning it is a church under the direct jurisdiction of the monarch, and it is also the Chapel of the Order of the Garter.
The Order of the Garter is a chivalric order founded in the 14th century by King Edward III of England. The order is dedicated to the image of chivalry and knights, and its members, known as Knights and Ladies of the Garter, consist of the British monarch, the Prince of Wales, and 24 other knights. The Order of the Garter is considered the most prestigious honour in the United Kingdom, and its members are chosen personally by the monarch.
St George's Chapel is closely associated with the Order of the Garter and was designed to be the order's chapel. The architecture and interior of the chapel reflect its connection to the order. The choir stalls of the chapel are assigned to the Knights and Ladies of the Garter, and above these stalls are displayed their heraldic devices, swords, helmets, and banners. The chapel also contains a collection of medieval heraldic stall plates, which are affixed to the backs of the stalls.
Over the centuries, St George's Chapel has been a significant place of worship for the British monarchy and has hosted numerous royal services, weddings, and burials. The chapel has undergone various alterations and restorations, reflecting the personal connection between the royal family and the chapel. For example, the Lady Chapel was renamed the Albert Memorial Chapel in memory of Prince Albert, consort of Queen Victoria. More recently, in 2022, Queen Elizabeth II was interred at St George's Chapel following her state funeral at Westminster Abbey.
St George's Chapel, with its rich history and architectural significance, serves as a place of worship for the Queen and the Royal Family, as well as a church for the local community. It continues to be an important venue for royal events and ceremonies, maintaining its strong Anglican associations.
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It is a Royal Peculiar
St George's Chapel, formally titled The King's Free Chapel of the College of St George, is a Royal Peculiar. This means that it is a church under the direct jurisdiction of the monarch, and not to any diocese or bishop. The concept of a Royal Peculiar originated in Anglo-Saxon times and developed as a result of the relationship between the Norman and Plantagenet Kings and the English Church.
Henry VIII retained Royal Peculiars following the Reformation. The Ecclesiastical Licences Act of 1533, as confirmed by the Act of Supremacy of 1559, transferred to the Sovereign the jurisdiction that had previously been exercised by the Pope. Most peculiars survived the Reformation, but they were finally abolished during the 19th century by various Acts of Parliament. However, Royal Peculiars remained under the jurisdiction of the monarch.
There are almost 20 Royal Peculiar institutions, including chapels and churches. Most of them started as Catholic and ended up as Church of England. Some contain reminders of the old faith, such as the remains of two senior Catholic saints executed by Henry VIII: St Thomas More and St John Fisher, who are buried in the Chapel of St. Peter ad Vinculam within the Tower of London.
St George's Chapel is among the most important medieval chantry foundations to have survived in England. It was founded in the 14th century by King Edward III and enlarged in the late 15th century. It has been the site of many royal services, weddings, and burials. For example, it was the burial place of Charles I, Henry VIII, and Queen Jane (née Seymour).
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It is part of Windsor Castle
St. George's Chapel is indeed part of Windsor Castle. It is located in the Lower Ward of the castle, which has been connected to the monarchy for almost 1,000 years.
The chapel was founded in the 14th century by King Edward III, but its construction began in 1475 under King Edward IV. It was completed in 1528 by Henry VIII, who had extensively enlarged the chapel in the late 15th century. The chapel was built in two stages, with the choir and its aisles being completed and roofed by 1483, and the nave following in 1496.
St. George's Chapel is a place of worship for the Queen and the Royal Family, as well as a church serving the local community. It is a Royal Peculiar, meaning it is under the direct jurisdiction of the monarch, and it is also the Chapel of the Order of the Garter. Members of the Order of the Garter meet at Windsor Castle every June for the annual Garter Service, during which they process on foot in their robes and insignia down to the chapel for the service.
The interior of the chapel has been developed over the years to commemorate key figures in Royal history and the history of the Chapel itself. For example, the octagonal Bray Chapel is named after Sir Reginald Bray, a friend and benefactor of Henry VIII. The chapel has been the site of many royal services, weddings, and burials, and it is known for its rich history, the figures associated with it, and the royal family's personal connection to it.
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It was founded in the 14th century
St George's Chapel, formally titled The King's Free Chapel of the College of St George, is located in the Lower Ward of Windsor Castle, in the district of Windsor and Maidenhead, Berkshire, England. It was founded in the 14th century by King Edward III and has been extensively enlarged over the centuries.
The chapel is built in the late-medieval Perpendicular Gothic style of architecture and is considered one of the finest examples of this style in England. The construction of the chapel was begun in 1475 by King Edward IV, who issued Letters Patent to Richard Beauchamp, Bishop of Salisbury, empowering him to take all measures necessary for the building of a new and greater church. The master mason, Henry Janyns, also played a significant role in the early construction.
The chapel was built in two stages, with the choir and its aisles completed and roofed by 1483, and the nave finished by 1496. However, the stone vaulting was not finalised until 1528, during the reign of Henry VIII. The chapel has been shaped by the history of the Royal Family and has been the site of many royal services, weddings, and burials. It is also the Chapel of the Order of the Garter, and members meet annually for the Garter Service, a tradition revived by King George VI in 1948.
Over the years, the interior of the chapel has been developed to commemorate key figures in royal history. For example, the octagonal Bray Chapel is named after Sir Reginald Bray, a friend and benefactor of Henry VIII. The chapel has been the final resting place for many English monarchs, including Edward IV, Henry VI, Henry VIII, Charles I, and more recently, Queen Elizabeth II and her husband, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.
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It is known for its Gothic architecture
St. George's Chapel, formally titled The King's Free Chapel of the College of St George, is located within the Windsor Castle in England. It is a castle chapel built in the late-medieval Perpendicular Gothic style and is considered one of the finest examples of Gothic architecture in England.
The chapel was founded in the 14th century by King Edward III and underwent extensive enlargement in the late 15th century. The period between 1475 and 1528 saw a radical redevelopment of the chapel initiated by Edward IV and continued by Henry VII and Henry VIII. The chapel was constructed in two stages, with the choir and its aisles completed by 1483 and the nave by 1496, while the stone vaulting was finalised in 1528.
The Gothic Perpendicular style of the chapel is evident in its architecture, with the choir stalls adorned by the insignia, swords, helmets, and banners of the Knights of the Garter. The heraldic stall plates, displaying medieval heraldry, are affixed to the backs of the stalls. The large west window boasts late 15th-century stained glass, and the painted roof bosses are among the chapel's other remarkable features.
St. George's Chapel has been the site of numerous royal services, weddings, and burials. It has served as a royal mausoleum, with many royals being laid to rest within the chapel, including King Edward IV, Henry VI, Henry VIII and Jane Seymour, Charles I, and more recently, Queen Elizabeth II and her husband, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.
The chapel has undergone several restorations and renovations over the centuries, including an extensive restoration project funded by King George III in the late 18th century and another in the early 20th century to address structural issues.
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Frequently asked questions
No, St. George's Chapel is Anglican. It is a place of worship for the Queen and the Royal Family and is a Royal Peculiar, meaning it is under the direct jurisdiction of the monarch.
St. George's Chapel is located in the Lower Ward of Windsor Castle, in the district of Windsor and Maidenhead, Berkshire, England.
The construction of St. George's Chapel was begun in 1475 by Edward IV and completed by Henry VIII in 1528.
St. George's Chapel is a fine example of Perpendicular Gothic architecture.
