Sardinian Embassy Chapel Facts for Kids

The Sardinian Embassy Chapel was once a very important Catholic church in London. It was connected to the Embassy of the Kingdom of Sardinia, which was a country that existed a long time ago. This chapel was located in an area of London called Lincoln's Inn. Sadly, it was taken down in 1909.

What Was the Sardinian Chapel?
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What Was the Sardinian Chapel?

The Sardinian Embassy Chapel was a special church in London. It was linked to the Embassy of the Kingdom of Sardinia. An embassy is like a small piece of another country located in a foreign land. It's where a country's ambassador lives and works.

How Did the Chapel Start?

The chapel was around for some years before it became an embassy chapel. Back when King James II ruled, a group of priests called the Franciscan Order lived at 54 Lincoln's Inn Fields. They built a chapel there.

In 1688, King James II left the country. After he left, a crowd of people destroyed the chapel. By 1700, the buildings were fixed up. The Portuguese embassy moved in, and later, a Sicilian embassy chapel was there by 1715.

In 1720, the Duke of Savoy traded his Kingdom of Sicily for the Kingdom of Sardinia. The chapel then became known as the Sardinian chapel around 1722.

Fires and Rebuilding

In 1759, the chapel completely burned down. But within three years, a beautiful new building was put up. The King of Sardinia paid for it. The chapel had many valuable items, like silver and artwork. The silver still belongs to the church that replaced it. You can even see it on display at the Victoria and Albert Museum today.

A Special Place for Catholics

In the 1700s, it was sometimes hard to be Catholic in England. Embassy chapels were very important because they offered a safe place to worship. Staff at embassies were allowed to have chapels inside their buildings. Soon, other people who shared their faith also started coming to these services.

The streets outside some embassy chapels in London sometimes saw protests. Police even tried to stop British people from attending Catholic services there. However, embassy chapels were not just for Catholics or for Britain. Other countries, like the Dutch Republic, also had chapels in their embassies. These chapels helped people practice their religion freely.

By the late 1700s, a new idea called extraterritoriality became common. This meant that an ambassador and their embassy building were treated as if they were on their home country's land. This meant they were only subject to their home country's laws. Because of this, English people stopped being bothered for going to services at the Sardinian Embassy. For example, in 1772, James Boswell and Pasquale Paoli went to worship there together.

Challenges and Changes

The chapel was badly damaged again in the Gordon riots of 1780. After this, the government gave money to fix it. The chapel was repaired and reopened in 1781.

In 1798, the Sardinian ambassador closed the chapel. He wanted to rent out the building. But the priests and Bishop John Douglass were able to get the property. The embassy building became a home for clergy, and the chapel reopened in 1799. It continued to be supported by the King of Sardinia until 1858.

In 1853, the chapel's name changed to St Anselm's Church. Then, in 1861, it changed again to the Church of St Anselm and St Cecilia.

The Chapel's Final Years

A new main road called Kingsway was built through many small streets in London. The church was one of the many buildings that had to be taken down for this new road. A new place to build was found along Kingsway.

In 1902, Cardinal Vaughan sold the old chapel site. With the money, he bought the new site in Kingsway and built the current Church of St Anselm and St Cecilia. He even had about £10,000 left over, which he gave to the Westminster Cathedral Building Fund.

Some items from the old chapel were moved to the new church. These include an oval marble font, the organ from 1857, the coat of arms of the House of Savoy, and a large painting of the Deposition. The old Sardinian Chapel was taken down in 1909. The new Church of St Anselm and St Cecilia stands in its place today.

Sardinian Embassy Chapel facts for kids

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