THE
P RTAL
March 2016
Page 3
Portal Comment
Historic occasion
at the Chapel Royal
Will Burton was at the Chapel of St John the Baptist,
Hampton Court Palace
T
he violence of the Reformation period in
England is well known. Both Catholics and
Protestants were martyred under various Tudor
monarchs. Nowhere is this more poignant than
at Hampton Court Palace. From the Knights
Hospitaller of Saint John of Jerusalem in the
thirteenth century to Thomas, Cardinal Wolsey in
the sixteenth, Hampton Court has a history to rival
any other property in England.
Great Hall where we were gathered. The Dean
remarked, “Here the ceremonial music of the church
was endorsed against the views of Puritan Divines
who hated the Surplice as a vestment of the priests
of Isis!” The Cardinal followed this up by saying,
“Vespers tonight calls upon that musical tradition.
This evening we see the healing quality of music.” He
continued, “Hampton Court Chapel was a significant
part of Elizabethan foreign policy. Important foreign
visitors would be brought here to experience the
music, the worship.”
Wolsey, of course, built a magnificent Palace on the
site. A palace that he had to “offer” to King Henry VIII
We were also reminded that William Byrd, the
when he fell out of favour because he did not secure
musician, who was a Catholic, had assistance from
an annulment of the king’s marriage to Catherine of
Queen Elizabeth to pay his Recusant fines! The Dean
Aragon, allowing him to marry Anne Boleyn.
recalled that all this was a model “that appalled those
who wanted the C of E to be totally protestant.” Their
Henry, Edward VI, Mary and Elizabeth all
conversation ranged over Vatican II and the modern
worshipped in the chapel at Hampton Court, Henry
relationship between Anglicans and Catholics.
declaring it a Chapel Royal. As far as music is
concerned, Tallis, Byrd, Morley, Gibbons, Tomkins,
Purcell and many more served at Hampton Court.
The conversation over, we all trooped to the
Yet not since the late 1550s has Catholic worship been Chapel Royal itself. A magnificent building, with
offered in this glorious chapel.
a richly decorated ceiling. Here The Sixteen,
augmented by members of Genesis Sixteen, sang
Thanks then to Jon Round, Chairman of The Choral Solemn Vespers of Our Lady. Cardinal Nichols
Foundation which preserves and promotes the unique officiated and the Dean preached an appropriate
heritage of English choral music at Hampton Court.
homily. It was the first time in four hundred and fifty
The Choral Foundation, with permission given by Her years that Catholic worship had been offered here.
Majesty the Queen, organised an event under the title Everyone present was aware of the huge historical
of “Faith and the Crown” at Hampton Court.
importance of the occasion. We were all part of
a history making moment of great importance.
The great and the good were present, mixing with
Incense rose to the heavens: a symbol of our prayers
those who had been successful in a ballot held to
ascending to the Almighty. Glorious music was in
provide tickets for ordinary people.
the air. A truly wonderful building bursting with
people. It was worship, in its truest sense.
The evening began with a conversation between
Vincent, Cardinal Nichols, the Archbishop of
Vespers included music by Taverner, Tallis,
Westminster and The Right Revd and Right Hon.
Plainsong Psalms and the magnificent Salve Regina
Richard Chartres, Bishop of London and, more
by William Cornysh. All concluded with a lusty
important for this occasion, Dean of the Chapels Royal. singing of the National Anthem.
They began by expressing their joy at “this thrilling
moment”. We were reminded that the Hampton
Court Palace Conference took place in the very
contents page
The evening ended with a reception at which all
mixed quite freely and enjoyed champagne and
refreshments.