St George's Chapel, Chatham facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St George's Centre, Chatham |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| General information | |
| Location | Medway, United Kingdom |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Coordinates | 51°23′50″N 0°32′05.0″E / 51.39722°N 0.534722°E |
| Current tenants | Medway Council |
| Construction started | 27 April 1905 |
| Inaugurated | 19 December 1906 |
| Client | Medway Council |
| Owner | Medway Council |
| Technical details | |
| Floor count | 1 |
| Other information | |
| Parking | Car park |
St. George's Chapel is a special building in Chatham, Medway, Kent. It used to be part of the famous Chatham Dockyard, an important place for the Royal Navy for hundreds of years. This chapel is well-known for its strong links to the navy.
Contents
St. George's Chapel is a very important building. It is a Grade II listed building, which means it is protected because of its special history and design. The chapel looks similar to another naval chapel in Plymouth, called HMS Drake.
A Look Back: How It Started
The first stone for St. George's Chapel was placed on 27 April 1905. It was built inside the Barracks area. When it was finished, the Lord Bishop of Rochester, John Harmer, officially opened it on 19 December 1906. He named it St George's Church.
Today, St. George's Chapel is still a place to remember naval heroes. The local government helps manage it. Inside, you can see many beautiful windows and memorials. These are dedicated to the brave people who served in the navy.
One special example is a stained glass window. This window was revealed by Queen Elizabeth (who was then Princess Elizabeth) on 29 October 1950. It was made to honor the ships from Chatham that were lost during World War II.
A Place for Today's Community
St. George's Chapel is not just a historical site; it is also used today. On 29 March 2013, a popular radio show called Any Questions? from BBC Radio 4 was broadcast live from the chapel.
The show was presented by Ritula Shah. Guests included Tom Newton Dunn, a political editor, Clare Gerada, a doctor, Lord Trimble, an Irish politician, and Angela Eagle, a Member of Parliament.
Today, the chapel is also where important meetings for Medway Council are held. This means the building continues to serve the community in new ways.
