The Savoy Chapel: A John of Gaunt whisper
Some years ago, at a Romantic Novelists’ Association
conference, I heard Professor Jenny Hartley give a talk on popular Women’s
Fiction – she was researching it at the time. At the end, after the questions,
she said, ‘I’d now like to ask you a
question: how many of you have read Katherine
by Anya Seton?’
Cover of ‘Katherine’ by Anya Seton (1961)
A forest of hands shot up. The entire conference had read it.
I myself read it as a teenager and loved it. It’s a terrific read. First published
in 1954, it’s the story of a herald’s daughter, Katherine Swynford, who was
first the mistress and then the third wife of John of Gaunt, a marriage which scandalized
all Europe. It is one of English History’s great love stories and it truly
changed the course of history; for Katherine became the ancestor of the Tudors
and thus of Queen Elizabeth II.
Alison Weir’s ‘Katherine Swynford’
More recently, at a Historical Novel Society conference, the
historian Alison Weir spoke about her new biography of Katherine Swynford. She
was aware that most of the audience had probably read Anya Seton’s book, and
she began by telling us she, too, had learnt of Katherine’s existence from Katherine, and paid a graceful tribute
to Anya Seton’s research and the power of her story-telling. Research, however, has moved on and now we know much more about Katherine's life.
The Queen’s Chapel of the Savoy
So, when the opportunity came up to visit the Queen’s Chapel
of the Savoy, standing on the very site where John of Gaunt had built the Savoy
Palace which features largely in Katherine,
(who can forget that love scene in the Avalon Chamber?) I jumped at it. I knew
that the Savoy Palace had been ransacked and burnt during the Peasant’s Revolt
in 1381 but I assumed that the chapel must have survived.
Before the tour, our guide, Squadron Leader Thomas Leyland,
asked me if I knew anything about the Chapel. I said, ‘Yes, wasn’t it part of John of Gaunt’s Savoy Palace?’ He gave a
sigh and said, ‘I don’t know how many
times people have asked me that question - dozens of times. The answer’s “No.”’
John of Gaunt: a 17th century copy of an earlier painting, now lost
I thought, and I bet all of them were female, had read Anya
Seton’s Katherine, and were in love
with that golden-haired, sexy Plantagenet, John of Gaunt. (Except that now I see that he probably wasn't golden-haired and sexy, but dark, saturnine and sexy. Still, I can live with that.
Having said all this, and despite my initial disappointment,
the Queen’s Chapel of the Savoy doesn’t disappoint. The Savoy Palace remained a
ruin until the site was cleared on the orders of Henry VII (John and
Katherine’s great-great grandson) in order to build a charitable foundation for
a hundred ‘pour and nedie’ men,
including the present chapel, in 1515.
The elegant 19th century ‘Gothic’ font
Two hundred years of subsequent neglect (it was never
properly endowed) followed. In the early 19th century, the most of
it was demolished and in 1820-21, the ruinous chapel was restored by Sir Robert
Smirke, architect of the British Museum. Only the east, west and north walls
and the perpendicular windows of Henry VII’s chapel survive. (Unusually, the
chapel is orientated north-south rather than the usual east-west.) It was
engulfed by another fire in 1864. The chapel we see today is the result of
sympathetic post-fire reconstruction by Sir Robert’s brother, Sidney; I think
he did a good job.
The altar
The early 16th century perpendicular style is a
sort of airy Gothic which I find very attractive. I love the view towards the
high altar with the delicate 19th century Gothic-style reredos
behind the altar.
The ceiling
The wonderful blue and gold ceiling is believed to be a copy
of the original Tudor building and it’s decorated with shields within
quatrefoils with the coats of arms of various dukes of Lancaster associated
with the Savoy, including, of course, John of Gaunt’s, with its gold on red Plantagenet
lions quartered with the gold on blue fleur de lys of France.
Geoffrey Chaucer
To my pleasure I realized that there were, in fact, a couple
of small reminders of John and Katherine’s story. As well as John’s coat of
arms on the ceiling, one of the chapel windows has Geoffrey Chaucer’s coat of
arms. Katherine had known him well; he had married her sister, Philippa, who
was lady-in-waiting to Queen Philippa, Edward III’s wife, and John of Gaunt’s
mother.
Plantagenet shield
The chapel itself is, and always had been, a private chapel
of the Sovereign, and thus independent of Church of England jurisdiction. Like
Westminster Abbey, it is a ‘royal peculiar’. It is an integral part of the
royal Duchy of Lancaster and its coat of arms is everywhere.
Princess Anne’s banner with her coat of arms
Since 1937, it had been the chapel of the Royal Victorian
Order, an order which is solely in the gift of the sovereign for exceptional
service to the crown. Princess Anne is the current Grand Master of the R.V.O.
and her banner hangs from the chapel wall.
It is very much a working chapel with regular services and a
fine men and boys’ choir which the public are welcome to attend. There are also
special services for members of the Royal Victorian Order, for examples,
weddings and memorial services, where members of the Royal Family may be
present.
It’s a lovely and tranquil place to visit.
Elizabeth Hawksley
