Boone's Chapel facts for kids
Boone's Chapel is a small, old building in London. It was built way back in 1683. Many people believe the famous architect Sir Christopher Wren designed it. The chapel is quite tiny, about the size of a small apartment (45 square metres).
It's made of red bricks with special Portland stone details around the windows. It also has a unique pyramid-shaped roof with a small open tower called a cupola. This chapel is very important, so it's listed as a Grade I building on the National Heritage List for England.
You can find Boone's Chapel in Lewisham, London, right next to some old almshouses. It's one of only two buildings in Lewisham that has a Grade I listing, which means it's super important historically!
History of Boone's Chapel
The chapel was built by a man named Christopher Boone. He was part of a group called the Merchant Taylors’ Company. Christopher Boone wanted to help people. He used money from his family's land to build homes for older people in Lee. He also used it to pay for twelve poor children to go to school.
He asked Sir Christopher Wren to design the chapel. Wren was a very famous architect. However, it seems that Robert Hooke, who was a friend of Wren's, actually built it. Hooke was also a member of the Merchant Taylors’ Company.
The original homes next to the chapel were taken down in 1877. But the chapel itself was saved! It was used as a reading room for a while. Other old homes from 1825 are still standing nearby. After World War II, the chapel was not used much anymore.
Who is Buried Here?
Christopher Boone, who built the chapel, is buried inside. His wife, Mary, is also buried there with him.
Saving the Chapel
By the late 1990s, Boone's Chapel was in bad shape. It had been ignored for many years. It was even put on a list of buildings in London that were at risk.
To save it, a new charity was started in 1999. It was called The Blackheath Historic Buildings Trust. This charity worked hard to get money. They received help from the Heritage Lottery Fund and the local council in Lewisham. Many local people and groups also supported them.
Thanks to all this help, over £500,000 was raised. Boone's Chapel was completely fixed up in 2008. A small special garden, called a physic garden, was also added.
Today, an architecture company uses the chapel. But it is still open for the public to visit about 30 days each year.
