St Peter ad Vincula (London)

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Coordinates: 51°30′31″N 0°4′37″W / 51.50861, -0.07694

Side of St. Peter chapel, viewed from near the place of execution on Tower Green.

For other churches of this dedication, see St Peter ad Vincula (disambiguation).

The Chapel Royal of St. Peter ad Vincula ("St. Peter in chains") is the parish church of the Tower of London, dating from 1520 and is a Royal Peculiar. The name refers to St. Peter's imprisonment under Herod in Jerusalem. The Chapel is probably best known as the burial place of some of the most famous prisoners executed at the Tower.

[edit] History

The existing building was erected for Henry VIII in 1519-20, but a chapel may have stood in its position since before the Norman conquest. At the west end is a short tower, surmounted by a lantern bell-cote, and inside the church is a nave and shorter north aisle, lit by windows with cusped lights but no tracery, a typical Tudor design.

[edit] Monuments

The Chapel contains many splendid monuments. In the north-west corner is a memorial to John Holland, Duke of Exeter, a Constable of the Tower who died 1447. Under the central arcade lies the effigy of Sir Richard Cholmondeley, a Lieutenant of the Tower who died 1521. In the sanctuary, there is an impressive monument to Sir Richard Blount, who died 1564, and his son Sir Michael, died 1610, both Tudor Lieutenants of the Tower, who would have witnessed many of the executions.

There is a fine 17th century organ, decorated with carvings by Grinling Gibbons.

The Chapel is perhaps best known as the burial place of some of the most famous Tower prisoners, including three queens: Anne Boleyn and Catherine Howard, the second and fifth wives of Henry VIII, respectively, and Lady Jane Grey, who reigned for nine days in 1553. Thomas More and John Fisher, who incurred the wrath of Henry VIII, were subsequently executed, and later canonised as martyrs by the Roman Catholic Church, are also buried here.

A list of those executed can be seen on the west wall.

The Chapel can be visited as part of a specific tour within the Tower of London.