Lovekyn Chapel

The Lovekyn Chapel is the oldest free-standing chantry chapel left in England and has a fascinating history dating back over 700 years. It was built in 1309 by a Kingston caterer, Edward Lovekyn.

A chantry chapel was not open to the public, and was a very prestigious building to own – particularly for a local caterer! Chantry chapels were private. The owner paid for the building and paid for one or more full time priests whose sole work was to say prayers for the owner and his family (thus securing them a place in heaven!)

Permission to build the chapel was granted by Edward II in return for the cancellation of a debt; ten years earlier Edward Lovekyn had catered the wedding feast of Edward I, but at the king's death 1000 marks (that’s £50,000 in today's money!) was still unpaid.

Henry VIII, during the Reformation, abolished chantry chapels and so the Lovekyn Chapel was deconsecrated (hence it being only licensed for non-religious ceremonies today). This could have been the end of the road for this lovely little chapel, but luckily it was not destroyed (as so many others were). When Queen Elizabeth I founded Kingston Grammar School in 1561 the Chapel was the obvious place for the school to be housed. The school remained in the chapel until the new buildings across the road were opened in 1878, although there was teaching in the Chapel right up until 1992. The chapel’s many and varied uses included a gymnasium, a library and even the school woodwork shop! But in the 1990s it was completely restored to its original elegance and has become the beautiful wedding venue we see today.

With its rich and colourful history the delightful Lovekyn Chapel is still owned by Kingston Grammar School and whilst not used for religious services, it is now available to hire for weddings and celebrations, in particular Civil Ceremonies, Civil Partnerships and Naming Ceremonies which are all conducted by the Registrars from Kingston Council.

In addition to its many attractive qualities, a unique and extremely popular optional extra is that the chapel allows couples to host an hour’s champagne reception for their guests after the ceremony for no extra charge whatsoever! If the groom supplies the champagne, the staff at the chapel will serve it to guests free of charge and no corkage fee either! This is a wonderful way to conclude the ceremony in the beautiful surroundings of the chapel’s back garden.

The Lovekyn Chapel does have several open mornings throughout the year for potential brides to view and was featured in Country Life in 2009 for the chapel’s 700th birthday.

Contact

Telephone: 020 8546 5875
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