Church of St Peter ad Vincula
The chapel's name refers to the story of Saint Peter's imprisonment under Herod Agrippa in Jerusalem. Its current building dates from 1520, although the church was likely established in the 12th century. Some historians propose that the chapel was founded before the Norman Conquest of England as a parish church. This predates the use of the area as a fortification. Others conclude the chapel was founded by Henry I who reigned from 1100 to 1135. Perhaps it was consecrated on the 1st of August 1110 on the feast of St Peter ad Vincula. The chapel would have stood outside the Tower's original perimeter walls so that the king could be seen worshipping in public. It stood in contrast to the king's use of the more private St John's Chapel. That smaller royal chapel was built into the 11th-century White Tower around 1080 by William I. St Peter ad Vincula had been a parish church for at least a century before it became the chapel for the inhabitants of the Tower. This transition occurred in the middle of the thirteenth century during the reign of Henry III. The crypt under the church was built at that time. On the 10th of December 1241, Henry III issued a writ of liberate to enhance the ecclesia sancti Petri infra ballium Turris nostrae London. By 1241 the chapel had been brought within the Tower walls. This structure had two chancels dedicated to St Mary and to St Peter. The latter contained Royal stalls that were wainscoted and painted. There were two altars dedicated to St Nicholas and St Katherine. During the reign of Henry III, the church had an enclosed cell for an anchorite. This cell would have been directly attached or located nearby. Henry III supported the living expenses of at least three different recluses both men and women at the Tower's anchorhold. These included Brother William, Idonee de Boclaund who was an anchoress, and Geoffrey le Hermit. After 1312, it is likely the ceremonial vigil related to the induction of the Knights of the Bath were held in the church.
The existing building was rebuilt for Henry VIII by Sir Richard Cholmondeley between 1519 and 1520. A fire destroyed the church in 1512 before this reconstruction began. Sir Richard Cholmondeley served as the Lieutenant of the Tower during this period. His tomb now lies inside the Church. The rebuilt chapel was probably designed by William Vertue. At St Peter's west end stands a short tower surmounted by a lantern bell-cote. Inside the church is a nave and shorter north aisle. These spaces are lit by windows with cusped lights but no tracery. This design represents typical Tudor architecture. The Chapel is probably best known as the burial place of some of the most famous prisoners executed at the Tower. Queen Anne Boleyn rests here alongside Queen Catherine Howard. Lady Jane Grey also lies within these walls having been Queen of England for nine days in 1553. George Boleyn Viscount Rochford brother of Anne was buried here after his execution in 1536. Edmund Dudley and Sir Richard Empson tax collectors for Henry VII were interred here too. Lord Guildford Dudley husband to Lady Jane Grey died in February 1554 after being executed on Tower Green.
St Peter ad Vincula was the church of the extra-parochial area of Tower Within. This area formed part of the Liberties of the Tower of London. On the 16th of December 1729 the church was added to the bills of mortality which recorded burials in London. It was excluded in 1730 because of a successful claim by the inhabitants that it remained extra-parochial. Extra-parochial places were eliminated during the 19th century. In 1858 the area became a civil parish following the Extra-Parochial Places Act 1857. The Tower of London liberty dissolved in 1894 according to reports in Star Issue 5033 dated the 20th of August 1894. The parish was absorbed by St Botolph without Aldgate in 1901. The Chapel serves as the regimental church of The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers. Their connections with the Tower of London go back to the 1685 raising of the Royal Fusiliers. These troops guarded both the Tower and the Artillery train kept there. Officers of the regiment retain the right to get married within these walls.
The church contains many splendid monuments including one to John Holland 2nd Duke of Exeter who died in 1447. Under the central arcade lies the effigy of Cholmondeley who died in 1521 the year after he completed the rebuilding of the church. In the sanctuary stands an impressive monument to Sir Richard Blount who died in 1564. His son Sir Michael died in 1610. Both were Tudor Lieutenants of the Tower who witnessed many executions. A fine 17th-century organ decorated with carvings by Grinling Gibbons sits inside. Thomas Babington Macaulay memorialized those buried in the chapel in his 1848 History of England. He wrote that no sadder spot exists on earth than that little cemetery. Death associates itself here not with genius or virtue but with the darkest aspects of human nature. Thither have been carried through successive ages by rude hands of gaolers without mourners following. During renovation work in 1876 three burials were discovered identified as Anne Boleyn Margaret Pole Countess of Salisbury and John Dudley 1st Duke of Northumberland. The tomb of Sir Richard Cholmondeley and his wife Elizabeth Pennington was opened during renovation but found empty. Their remains are not there though it contained the original Tudor font now re-instated to the chapel.
A list of remarkable persons buried in the chapel between 1534 and 1747 appears on a table on the west wall. King Henry VIII's minister Thomas Cromwell died in 1540 and lies here. Thomas Seymour 1st Baron Seymour of Sudeley brother of Jane Seymour is remembered for unseemly conduct towards step-niece Elizabeth I. Edward Seymour 1st Duke of Somerset died in 1552 within these walls. John Dudley 1st Duke of Northumberland and John Gates lie here connected with the 1553 succession crisis. James Scott 1st Duke of Monmouth rests under the communion table having died in 1685. Lord High Chancellor Sir Thomas More and Bishop John Fisher incurred the wrath of King Henry VIII. After their execution they were canonised as martyrs by the Roman Catholic Church. Philip Howard another saint who suffered under the Tudors was also buried here for a time before his body moved to Arundel. The church contains many splendid monuments including one to John Holland 2nd Duke of Exeter who died in 1447. Under the central arcade lies the effigy of Cholmondeley who died in 1521.
The church functions as a Chapel Royal where the priest responsible is the chaplain of the Tower of London. This individual serves as a canon and member of the Ecclesiastical Household. The canonry was abolished in 1685 but reinstated in 2012. Roger Hall was installed as a canon the same year. He became the first Canon for 300 years according to Historic Royal Palaces reports dated the 21st of February 2014. The chapel can be visited as part of a specific tour within the Tower of London or by attending regular Sunday morning service. Doyne Bell published Notices of the Historic Persons buried in the Chapel of St Peter ad Vincula in 1877 with an account of discovering supposed remains of Queen Anne Boleyn. Creative Media Partners LLC reprinted this work in October 2022 spanning 398 pages. The history of this site continues through its modern restoration efforts and ongoing religious services.
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Common questions
When was the Church of St Peter ad Vincula originally established?
The church was likely established in the 12th century, possibly before the Norman Conquest of England. Some historians conclude it was founded by Henry I who reigned from 1100 to 1135.
Who rebuilt the current building of the Church of St Peter ad Vincula and when did construction occur?
Sir Richard Cholmondeley rebuilt the existing structure for Henry VIII between 1519 and 1520. A fire destroyed the previous church in 1512 before this reconstruction began.
Which famous prisoners are buried inside the Church of St Peter ad Vincula?
Queen Anne Boleyn rests here alongside Queen Catherine Howard and Lady Jane Grey who was Queen of England for nine days in 1553. George Boleyn Viscount Rochford brother of Anne was also buried here after his execution in 1536.
What is the religious status of the Church of St Peter ad Vincula today?
The chapel serves as the regimental church of The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers with connections dating back to the 1685 raising of the Royal Fusiliers. It functions as a Chapel Royal where the priest responsible is the chaplain of the Tower of London.
When were burials recorded at the Church of St Peter ad Vincula added to the bills of mortality?
On the 16th of December 1729 the church was added to the bills of mortality which recorded burials in London. It was excluded in 1730 because of a successful claim by the inhabitants that it remained extra-parochial.