The King’s Chapel of the Savoy

The King’s Chapel of the Savoy has a long association with the Duchy of Lancaster.

The Chapel is the last surviving building of a hospital founded by Henry VII for homeless people, the construction of which was completed in 1512 a few years after his death. It stands on the area of London known as the Savoy.

The Chapel belongs to His Majesty King Charles III in His Right as Duke of Lancaster. It is a ‘free’ chapel or ‘peculiar’.

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

The Chapel remains an important part of the Savoy Estate, the Duchy of Lancaster’s principal London land holding. It continues to provide spiritual service to the community, as it has done for nearly 500 years.

The King’s Chapel of the Savoy is also the chapel of the Royal Victorian Order, an Order of Chivalry within the Sovereign’s personal gift. The present Chaplain is also Chaplain of the Order.

The expenses of the Chapel are borne by The King in Right of His Duchy of Lancaster. Maintenance of this historic building remains the Duchy of Lancaster’s responsibility. Recent work has included the landscaping of the gardens in honour of Queen Elizabeth II’s Golden Jubilee in 2002 and the restoration of the Chapel ceiling in 1999. In 2011, further improvements were made to the structure of the building and a new commemorative stained glass window was installed in honour of the late Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.

Members of the public are most welcome to attend services in The King’s Chapel of the Savoy.  The Chapel is open to the public from Monday to Thursday 9am to 4pm and on Sunday from 9am to 1pm.

For further information and times of Services please visit www.royalchapelsavoy.org/