Once inside The Roman Catholic Church Of St Peter, prepare to be transported back in time. This isn’t just another church. It is a place steeped in history and brimming with stories. Let me introduce you to The Roman Catholic Church Of St Peter.
The Chapel Royal of St Peter ad Vincula means “St Peter in chains.” It is a Chapel Royal. It also served as the former parish church of the Tower of London. The name refers to Saint Peter’s imprisonment under Herod Agrippa in Jerusalem. Its current building dates from 1520. However, a church likely stood here as early as the 12th century.
This church was for Tower of London residents. It became the second chapel in the Tower. The first was St John’s. William I built St John’s inside the White Tower around 1080. St Peter’s is a royal peculiar. This means it falls under the monarch’s jurisdiction. The chaplain of the Tower oversees these chapels.
At the west end of St Peter’s stands a short tower. It is topped with a lantern bell-cote. Inside, you will find a nave and a shorter north aisle. Windows with cusped lights illuminate the space. It’s a typical Tudor design.
The Chapel is best known as the burial place. Many famous prisoners executed at the Tower are buried here. Among them are Queen Anne Boleyn and Queen Catherine Howard. Both were wives of King Henry VIII. Lady Jane Grey also rests here. She was the “nine-day Queen”. Sir Thomas More is another notable figure buried here. He was Lord High Chancellor.
The chapel’s original foundation date remains unknown. It has been destroyed and rebuilt. It has also been relocated and renovated several times. Some believe it existed before the Norman conquest. They suggest it predates the area’s use as a fortification. Others say Henry I founded it around 1110.
St Peter ad Vincula served as a parish church for a century. Then, it became the chapel for Tower residents. This happened during Henry III’s reign in the 13th century. During his reign, the crypt was also built.
The dedication to “St Peter ad Vincula” has several meanings. The most obvious is the Liberation of Peter from prison. The first Tower prisoner, Ranulf Flambard, was incarcerated in 1100.
The current building was rebuilt between 1519 and 1520. Sir Richard Cholmondeley oversaw it. He was the Lieutenant of the Tower. The rebuilding followed a fire in 1512. William Vertue likely designed the rebuilt chapel.
St Peter ad Vincula was the church for the extra-parochial area of Tower Within. This was part of the Liberties of the Tower of London.
The church contains many monuments. There is a memorial to John Holland. He was Duke of Exeter and Constable of the Tower. He died in 1447. The effigy of Cholmondeley lies under the central arcade. He died in 1521 after completing the church rebuilding.
In the sanctuary, there is a monument to Sir Richard Blount and his son Sir Michael. Both served as Tudor Lieutenants of the Tower. They witnessed many executions. The organ dates back to the 17th century. Grinling Gibbons decorated it with carvings.
Many remarkable people are buried here. Thomas Babington Macaulay memorialized them in his History of England.
During renovation work in 1876, three burials were discovered. They were identified as Anne Boleyn, Margaret Pole, and John Dudley. The tomb of Sir Richard Cholmondeley was found empty. However, it contained the original Tudor font.
The Reverend Roger Hall was installed as a canon in 2012. The chapel can be visited within the Tower of London. You can also attend the regular Sunday morning service. The Roman Catholic Church Of St Peter is more than a building. It is a testament to faith, history, and the enduring spirit of London.