St Mary Undercroft facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Mary Undercroft |
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| Chapel of Saint Mary Undercroft | |
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Print from the Guide to the Palace of Westminster (1911)
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| Location | Palace of Westminster, London |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| History | |
| Founded | 1297 |
| Dedication | Blessed Virgin Mary |
| Dedicated | 1641 |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | Royal Peculiar |
The Chapel of St Mary Undercroft is a special Church of England chapel. It is located in the famous Palace of Westminster in London, England. You can reach this chapel by going down a set of stairs. These stairs are found in the southeast corner of Westminster Hall.
Contents
A Chapel with a Long History
The Chapel of St Mary Undercroft has a very interesting past. It was originally built in 1297. For a long time, it was a crypt, which is like an underground room, beneath St Stephen's Chapel. Over the years, it was used for many different things.
From Crypt to Chapel
At various times, this chapel was not used for worship at all. It was once a place to store wine. It also served as a dining room for the Speaker. There are even stories that Oliver Cromwell might have kept his horses there. However, records do not fully confirm this last part.
Rebuilding After the Fire
In 1834, a big fire destroyed St Stephen's Chapel. This fire also damaged parts of the Undercroft chapel. After the fire, the chapel was brought back to its original purpose. It was beautifully decorated in the 1860s by Edward Middleton Barry. He used bright colors, gold, and stencils to cover the walls, floor, and ceiling. The area behind the altar shows pictures of important British saints.
Important Moments and Uses
The Chapel of St Mary Undercroft has been part of some significant events. It is still used for worship today. It also serves as a special place for certain ceremonies.
A Suffragette's Stand
On April 2, 1911, a brave woman named Emily Davison hid in a cupboard inside the chapel. Emily Davison was a suffragette. Suffragettes were women who fought for the right to vote. She stayed there overnight so that her address on the census form would be recorded as the House of Commons. This was her way of showing that women belonged in politics. Today, a special plaque honors her act. It was put there in 1999 by Tony Benn.
Special Ceremonies Today
The chapel is still an active place of worship. It has a unique privilege for children of peers. Peers are members of the British nobility. Their children, who have the title "The Honourable", can use the chapel for their weddings. Also, members of Parliament and peers can use the chapel for christenings. The font, which is a basin for baptisms, was designed by Barry. Its basin was made from a single piece of alabaster.
A Royal Peculiar Chapel
The Chapel of St Mary Undercroft is known as a Royal Peculiar chapel. This means it is not under the usual control of a diocesan bishop. Instead, it is managed by the Lord Great Chamberlain and Black Rod. It does not have its own dedicated clergy. For many years, services were led by the Rector of St Margaret's, Westminster. This person is also part of the Chapter of Westminster Abbey. In 2010, the Speaker of the House of Commons chose Rev'd Rose Hudson-Wilkin to be the Speaker's Chaplain.
A Place of Remembrance
The chapel has also been a place of quiet respect for important figures. In April 2013, the body of former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher was kept here the night before her funeral. The same honor was given to Tony Benn, a well-known Labour politician, before his funeral in March 2014. More recently, in March 2017, the body of PC Keith Palmer was also kept here. He was a police officer who sadly died while on duty during the 2017 Westminster attack.
