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The Chapel Royal originally referred not to a building but an establishment in the Royal Household. It is a body of priests and singers to serve the spiritual needs of the Sovereign. Over time the term has become associated with a number of chapels used by monarchs for worship over the centuries. Today the two main Chapels Royal are located at St James's Palace in London: The Chapel Royal and The Queen's Chapel. Since such establishments are outside the usual diocesian structure, they are known as royal peculiars.
Organizationally, the Chapel Royal is a department of the Ecclesiastical Household of the Sovereign of the United Kingdom. It is formally known as the royal Free Chapel of the Household. There are two parts, with the Ecclesiastical Household in Scotland being distinct from that in England, the latter being Church of England, the former Church of Scotland.
History
Emerging as a distinct body in the late 13th century, it formerly had no official base, but travelled, like the rest of the court, with the monarch and held services wherever he or she was residing at the time. It dates from 1483 as presently constituted. The Dean of the Chapel Royal is a senior office dating from 1312, which has been held since 1748 by the Bishop of London. Daily control is vested in the Sub-dean, who is also Domestic Chaplain to the Sovereign at Buckingham Palace.
In the 17th century the chapel had its own building in Whitehall, which burned down in 1698; since 1702 it has been based in St. James's Palace.
The Chapel possesses an important choir. This achieved its greatest eminence during the reign of Elizabeth I, when William Byrd and Thomas Tallis were joint organists. The "Master of the Children" had until at least 1684 the power to press-gang promising boy trebles from provincial choirs for service in the chapel; the boy choristers were also used until 1626 as actors in productions of plays at court and in the 18th century to sing the soprano parts in performances of Handel's oratorios and other works. Under Charles II the choir was often augmented by violinists from the royal band; at various times the chapel has also employed composers, lutenists and viol players.
Today
The Chapel Royal has a number of buildings, including the Chapel Royal at St James's Palace, and the Queen's Chapel in the same complex. The Chapel most commonly used its that in St James's Palace, which has been used regularly since 1702.
These are served by a Choir comprising Gentlemen-in-Ordinary and Children of the Chapel - all boys - and by a small number of Priests-in-Ordinary (and usually also Deputy Priests-in-Ordinary) appointed to assist the Sub-dean on an occasional basis.
The current Sub-dean is the Rev'd Prebendary William Booth, LVO MA, appointed in 1991.
There is an Organist, Choirmaster and Composer, who is assisted by a Sub-Organist. The current Organist is Dr Andrew Gant, who was appointed in 2000. Previously holders of these offices have included George Handel (1723-59), Jeremiah Clarke (1704-1707), William Croft (1708-27), John Blow (1674-1708), Orlando Gibbons (1605-25), John Bull (1591-1613), William Byrd (c.1572-c.1618), and Thomas Tallis (c.1545-85).
The Choir rehearses twice weekly at St James's Palace. The children used to attend a residential Choir School, but this closed in 1923 and they now attend the City of London School as Queen's Scholars.
There are additional Chapels Royal in Hampton Court Palace and in the Tower of London, both cared for by their own Chaplains and Choirs.
The Chapel Royal in Scotland is under a Dean. Another Chapel Royal once existed in Ireland. The former is Church of Scotland, and the later was Church of Ireland.
See also
References
- "London (i), §II, 1: Music at court: The Chapel Royal", Grove Music Online ed. L. Macy (Accessed 16 Sept. 2004) www.grovemusic.com
External links
- Chapels Royal, from the official site of the British Monarchy
Classical music in the United Kingdom | Chapels in the United Kingdom | British monarchy | Religion in the United Kingdom
"Chapel Royal"