St. George's Chapel, Windsor
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St. George's Chapel is located in the lower ward of Windsor Castle, one of the principal residences of Queen Elizabeth II.
Originally the Chapel of St. Edward the Confessor, built in the early 13th Century by Henry III of England, it was attached to the second of two collegiate churches founded by Edward III on 6 August, 1348, and rededicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary, St. Edward the Confessor and St. George.
It became the motherchurch of the Order of the Garter, and a special service is still held in June of each year attended by the Queen and the members of the order, whose heraldic banners hang above the upper stalls of the choir where they have a seat for life.
The chapel today is a result of spectacular expansion in the Perpendicular Gothic style, begun in 1475 during the reign of Edward IV. During the reign of Henry VII, much of the original chapel of St. George was pulled down to make way for the Lady Chapel, which he then abandoned in favour of building it at Westminster Abbey instead. Although others continued work on the chapel at Windsor, it was not vaulted and furnished until Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom oversaw refurbishment of the chapel in the 19th Century.
It remains a Royal Peculiar, existing outside the usual hierarchy of the Church of England and responsible directly to the Queen.
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Marriages
It has been the site of many royal marriages, particularly of the children of Queen Victoria. These marriages include:
- King Edward VII of the United Kingdom (then Prince of Wales) and Alexandra of Denmark on 10 March 1863
- Prince Christian of Schleswig-Holstein and Princess Helena, Princess Christian of Schleswig-Holstein on 5 July 1866
- John Douglas Sutherland Campbell, 9th Duke of Argyll and Princess Louise, Duchess of Argyll on 21 March 1871
- Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught and Princess Louise Marguerite of Prussia on 13 March 1879
- Prince Leopold, Duke of Albany and Princess Helena of Waldeck on 27 April 1882
- Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex (Queen's third son) and Sophie Rhys-Jones on 9 January 1999
Marriage Blessings
Burials
It has also been the scene of many royal funerals and interrments —the final resting place of many royals. These include:
Altar
- King Henry VI of England (reburial) 1485
- King Edward IV of England 1483
- Queen Elizabeth Woodville on 12 June 1492
- King Edward VII of the United Kingdom on 20 May 1910
- Queen Alexandra of Denmark 1925
Choir
- Queen Jane Seymour on 12 November 1537
- King Henry VIII of England after 28 January 1547
- King Charles I of England on 7 February 1649
Royal Vault
- King George III of the United Kingdom on 16 February 1820
- King George IV of the United Kingdom 1830
- King William IV of the United Kingdom 1837
- Prince Leopold, Duke of Albany 1884
- Prince Albert Victor, Duke of Clarence 1892
King George VI Memorial Chapel (North Nave Aisle)
- King George VI of the United Kingdom on 11 March 1952
- Ashes of Princess Margaret 2002 (cremated at Slough)
- Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother on 9 April 2002
External links and references
- St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle (http://www.stgeorges-windsor.org/)