|
It is one of the most historic of the places of worship linked to the Monarchy. Elizabeth I said her prayers there for the defence of the Realm against the Spanish Armada; Charles I received his final Holy Commuion before his execution; musicians Thomas Tallis, Henry Purcell and Handel worked and composed there. And in October 2002 The Queen's long reign has now been commemorated in it through a programme of restoration marking Her Majesty's Golden Jubilee.
Key to the refurbishment is a new stained glass window above the altar.
The window - the Golden Jubilee gift of the Twelve Great Livery Companies - was specially commissioned from the late John Napper. He, amongst many accomplishments, was the official war artist stationed at Trincomalee in Ceylon during World War II. He unfortunately died soon after completing the design, before he could see it installed.
The window incorporates the Four Evangelists. Standing amidst the previously stony ground from which their message sprang, the Evangelists flank a symbolic tree bearing the names of all the Commonwealth countries accredited to the Court of St. James's.
This harks back to the centuries of state diplomacy conducted by the Sovereign on campaign overseas upon ground rendered holy by the presence of the Dean of the Chapel Royal or within a consecrated Chapel. The Jubilee window celebrates the achievement of The Queen in cementing the global partnership of the Commonwealth.
At the top of the window the Holy Spirit is represented by a dove, Windsor Castle is depicted as a symbol of the House of Windsor, and a sun-burst is flanked by two trumpeting archangels.
The whole window is based around the famous words of the medieval female visionary Julian of Norwich that "All shall be well - and all manner of thing shall be well".
Other major features of the refurbishment include a new oak reredos behind the altar incorporating a late-medieval or early-Tudor triptych and aumbry.
The chapel's Holbein ceiling has been cleaned, and three new panels introduced featuring heraldic devices particular to The Queen, The Duke of Edinburgh and The Prince of Wales.
The Victorian hangings in the Royal Closet have been renewed and wall sconces from the Royal Collection installed. The oak pews and panelling have been stripped of their dark staining down to the natural wood originally installed there.
Finally, the Royal pew will be graced by two specially commissioned staves bearing Royal Crowns, a gift from the Chapel Royal Choristers Association.
These improvements, together with the new window, will ensure that this historic chapel is seen to its best effect by all who visit it for many decades to come.
| 
