Sunday, November 4, 2007


St George's Chapel is the place of worship at Windsor Castle in England. It is both a royal peculiar and the chapel of the Order of the Garter.
The chapel is located in the Lower Ward of the castle, which is currently one of the principal residences of Queen Elizabeth II.
The day to day running of the chapel is the responsibility of the religious College of St George, which is directed by a chapter of the dean and four canons, assisted by a clerk and other staffers. The Society of the Friends of St George's and Descendants of the Knights of the Garter, a registered charity, was established in 1931 to assist the College in maintaining the chapel.
The chapel was built from the 15th to 16th centuries at the castle in the Perpendicular Gothic style as an expansion and rededication of the 13th century Chapel of St Edward the Confessor.
The Chapel of St Edward the Confessor was attached to the second of two religious colleges which were founded in 1348 by King Edward III and rededicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary, St Edward the Confessor and St George the Martyr. Edward III also built the Aerary Porch in 1353-1354. It was used as the entrance to the new college
St George's Chapel became the Mother Church of the order where a special service is still held every June and is attended by the members of the order. Their heraldic banners hang above the upper stalls of the choir where they have a seat for life.
Much of the chapel was removed to make way for the Lady Chapel, which was then abandoned in favour of building it at Westminster Abbey.
Although others continued work on St George's Chapel, it wasn't vaulted and furnished until the 19th century when Queen Victoria oversaw its refurbishment.
St George's Chapel at Windsor CastleSt George's Chapel at Windsor Castle
Heraldry
The chapel has been the site of many royal marriages, particularly of the children of Queen Victoria. These marriages include:

King Edward VII and his wife Queen Alexandra in 1863
Prince Christian of Schleswig-Holstein and his wife Princess Helena in 1866
Princess Louise and her husband the Duke of Argyll in 1871
Prince Arthur and his wife Princess Louise of Prussia in 1879
Prince Leopold and his wife Princess Helena of Waldeck in 1882
Prince Edward and his wife Sophie Rhys-Jones in 1999 Marriages

Charles, Prince of Wales and his wife Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall in 2005 Marriage blessings
The chapel has been the site of many royal funerals and interments, and is presumed to be the place selected for the burial of Queen Elizabeth II upon her death. Royals interred here include:

Burials

King Edward IV in 1483
King Henry VI (reburial) in 1484
Queen Elizabeth Woodville in 1492
King Edward VII in 1910
Queen Alexandra in 1925 Altar

Queen Jane Seymour in 1537
King Henry VIII in 1547
King Charles I in 1649 Choir

Princess Amelia in 1810
Princess Augusta in 1813
Princess Charlotte in 1817
Queen Charlotte in 1818
Prince Edward in 1820
King George III in 1820
Princess Elizabeth in 1821
Prince Frederick in 1827
King George IV in 1830
King William IV in 1837
Princess Augusta in 1840
Queen Adelaide in 1849
King George V of Hanover in 1878
Prince Leopold in 1884
Prince Albert Victor in 1892
Princess Mary Adelaide in 1897
Prince Francis in 1900
Prince Adolphus in 1930
Princess Augusta in 1930 Royal Vault

King George V in 1936
Queen Mary in 1953 King George VI Memorial Chapel (North Nave Aisle)

List of Knights and Ladies of the Garter
List of Ladies of the Garter
Order of the Garter
The Society of the Friends of St George's and Descendants of the Knights of the Garter
Choir of St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle
Dean of Windsor
Windsor Castle

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