Savoy Chapel facts for kids
Quick facts for kids King's Chapel of the Savoy |
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View of the associated green and the chapel's east side, from Savoy Street
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 King's Chapel of the Savoy
Location in Greater London
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| 51°30′38″N 0°07′12″W / 51.5105°N 0.1199°W | |
| Location | Liberty of the Savoy, near Temple, London |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Previous denomination | Lutheran Catholic |
| History | |
| Status | Royal Peculiar |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Architect(s) | Richard Griffiths Architects (renovations) |
| Style | Tudor; Perpendicular |
| Completed | 1512 |
| Specifications | |
| Length | Nave: 200 ft (61 m) |
| Number of towers | 1 |
| Materials | Stone |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | London (location) |
| Province | Canterbury |
The King's Chapel of the Savoy is a historic church in London, England. It is officially known as the King's Chapel of St John the Baptist in the Precinct of the Savoy. Sometimes, it has been called the Queen's Chapel when a queen was on the throne, like Queen Victoria and Elizabeth II.
This special chapel is located in the City of Westminster. It faces famous landmarks like the Savoy Hotel and the Institution of Engineering and Technology. The chapel is considered a very important historical building, marked as a Grade II* listed building.
The chapel stands on the land where the old Savoy Palace used to be. This palace belonged to John of Gaunt, a powerful prince. The palace was destroyed during the Peasants' Revolt in 1381. Later, the land became property of the monarch through the Duchy of Lancaster.
Work on the chapel began in 1502 under King Henry VII. By 1512, it was set up as a hospital to help 100 poor and needy men in London. Over time, the hospital fell apart, but the chapel survived. Today, the chapel is still owned by the Duchy of Lancaster. This means it is a Royal Peculiar, which is a church directly under the monarch's control, not a bishop's. It is also the chapel for the Royal Victorian Order, a group of people honored by the monarch.
Contents
History of the Chapel
The chapel's story began with Peter II, Count of Savoy's palace. This palace was destroyed in the Peasants' Revolt of 1381. The current chapel building was started in the 1490s and finished in 1512 by King Henry VII. It was originally a smaller chapel connected to a large hospital building. The hospital had a long hall, about 200 feet (61 meters), with 100 beds. This hospital part was later torn down in the 1800s.
Different Groups Worship Here
Over the years, the Savoy Chapel has been used by different church groups. For a long time, the congregation of St Mary-le-Strand worshipped here (from 1549 to 1714) because their own church building was not ready.
A German Lutheran group from Westminster also received royal permission to use the chapel. This group, which separated from another church, dedicated the chapel in 1694. They called it the Marienkirche, or the German Church of St Mary-le-Savoy.
Weddings and Famous People
The chapel became known in the 1700s and 1800s for holding weddings that were not always approved by the usual church rules of the time. For example, in 1755, a wedding here led to the church officials involved being punished.
Later, from 1860 to 1890, the chaplain Henry White became famous for marrying many actors and actresses. In the early 1900s, another chaplain, Hugh Chapman, allowed divorced people to marry or have their civil marriages blessed in the chapel. Famous weddings included Consuelo, Duchess of Marlborough, in 1921, and Edith Stuyvesant Vanderbilt in 1925. However, the next chaplain, Cyril Cresswell, stopped this practice.
In 1912, the chapel hosted a special wedding for suffragette Una Duval. She refused to say "and obey" in her vows, which caused a lot of discussion.
In 1939, it was officially announced that the chapel would be known as The King's Chapel of the Savoy.
World War II Damage
During the London Blitz in the Second World War, many of the chapel's stained glass windows were destroyed. However, one beautiful stained glass window survived. It shows angels playing music and honors Richard D'Oyly Carte, who built the nearby Savoy Theatre and Savoy Hotel. The names of his children, Rupert D'Oyly Carte and Dame Bridget D'Oyly Carte, were added later.
The Chapel Today
The King's Chapel of the Savoy has been owned by the Crown for many centuries. It is part of the Duchy of Lancaster and is a Royal Peculiar, meaning it is directly under the monarch's authority. In November 2016, it became an official Chapel Royal.
The chaplain, who leads the chapel, is chosen by the Duchy of Lancaster. Since 1937, the chaplain has also been the chaplain for the Royal Victorian Order. The chapel acts like the local church for the Savoy Estate, which is a main property owned by the Duchy of Lancaster in London. Inside the chapel, you can see special plaques that honor members of the Royal Victorian Order.
The Duchy of Lancaster pays for most of the chapel's costs and upkeep. Recent work includes making the garden look nice for Queen Elizabeth II's Golden Jubilee in 2002. The chapel ceiling was also repaired in 1999. In November 2012, Queen Elizabeth II herself unveiled a new stained-glass window to celebrate her Diamond Jubilee.
The Savoy Chapel uses the traditional 1662 Book of Common Prayer and the Authorised King James Version of the Bible for its services. Services are held every Sunday, and everyone is welcome to attend, except during special events. The chapel is also open for visitors from Monday to Thursday.
Music at the Chapel
The chapel is known for its beautiful music, especially its organ and choir.
The Organ
The chapel has a large pipe organ with three keyboards. It was given to the chapel by Queen Elizabeth II. The organ was built by J. W. Walker & Sons Ltd based on plans by the previous Master of the Music, William Cole. The design of the organ's wooden case was created by Arthur Bedford Knapp-Fisher. The Queen attended a special service on October 27, 1965, to dedicate the organ. This service also celebrated 700 years of the Duchy of Lancaster.
Organists
The person in charge of the music, called the Master of the Music, is currently Philip Berg. He has held this position since 1995. Justin Luke has been the sub-organist since 2002. Past Masters of the Music include Henry Bromley Derry (from around 1913 to 1954) and William Cole (from 1954 to 1994).
The Choir
The chapel's choir follows the tradition of English cathedral choirs. It has up to 21 boy choristers (boys aged ten and older) and six adult professional singers. The boy singers come only from St Olave's Grammar School in Orpington. Each year, up to four students are chosen to sing in the choir after passing tests. These boys are then guaranteed a place at St Olave's for the next year. Some choristers also join when they are in their first year at St Olave's.
Choristers are expected to stay in the choir until their voices change. They practice three times a week at school and once a week at the chapel. The boy singers who join through the special test are called Wakeham choristers. This name honors Michael Wakeham, who was involved with the choir for 49 years. The choir sings at Sunday morning services, including Eucharist or Matins. They also sing for special events like weddings, carol services, and royal occasions throughout the year.
From 1915 to 1952, the London Choir School provided all the choristers for the Savoy Chapel.
Images for kids
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View of the associated green and the chapel's east side, from Savoy Street
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Part of the old Savoy Hospital (top) and the 'Church of St Mary Savoy' (bottom) in 1753
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The Savoy Chapel c. 1890
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Diamond Jubilee window
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Savoy Chapel nave in 2020. The banners are those of the Sovereign (right) and of the Grand Master (left) of the Royal Victorian Order as they were then in office.
See also
In Spanish: Capilla del Savoy para niños
