New Steward Appointed

Richard Buck has been appointed as Steward of The Queen’s Chapel of the Savoy. He will take over the role on 19^th April 2021 when the current Steward Thomas Leyland retires from the post after nine years of service.

Richard is 28 years old, was born and brought up in Northamptonshire and is currently the Verger at St George’s Church in Hanover Square, London. He has lived in London since 2011 when he began studying the trombone at the Royal Academy of Music.

Whilst studying at the Academy, Richard worked with esteemed musicians including Sir Mark Elder, Semyon Bychkov, Elgar Howarth and Trevor Pinnock. He was President of the Academy’s Student’s Union and founded a professional Brass Trio in which he still plays.

A keen student of the affairs and history of the Middle East, Richard enjoys attending talks at Chatham House and the London School of Economics. He is also an ardent cricket fan and supporter of Middlesex County Cricket Club.

Commenting on the appointment, The Reverend Canon Thomas Woodhouse, Chaplain of The Queen’s Chapel of the Savoy said: “I am delighted to welcome Richard to our team here at the Chapel. We believe that our ministry is all about improving people’s day-to-day lives through the power of prayer, quiet contemplation, spiritual support and the practise of Christian hospitality. This was never more critical to our collective wellbeing than in the year just passed and we are hopeful that the rest of the year will see an improving picture for everyone.”

He added: “We will miss Thomas after his nine years’ of dedicated service, but he is leaving us in very good shape so we are looking forward with excitement to starting the next chapter in the Chapel’s rich history.  We will also miss Thomas’ wife, Pam, who has contributed so much to our common life.”

The Queen’s Chapel of the Savoy is the last surviving building of a hospital founded by Henry VII for the poor, needy and homeless. It has belonged to the Duchy of Lancaster as part of its historic Savoy Estate since it was built in 1512.

In 2016, the Duchy of Lancaster agreed to the incorporation of the management of ecclesiastical matters at the Chapel into the Ecclesiastical Household. This arrangement mirrors the relationship between the Historic Royal Palaces and the Chapels at the Tower of London and Hampton Court Palace, bringing all Her Majesty’s Chapels in London under the ecclesiastical jurisdiction of the Dean.