The Lost Chapel of Westminster: How a Royal Chapel Became the House of Commons

The fascinating history of St Stephen's Chapel in the Palace of Westminster, a building at the heart of British life for over 700 years.

Origins and Transformation

• Begun in 1292, the royal chapel of St Stephen was the crowning glory of the old palace of Westminster.
• It served as a place of worship for kings, showcasing the finest architecture, ritual, and music that the Plantagenets could offer.
• In 1548, during the height of the Protestant Reformation, St Stephen's was repurposed as the House of Commons.
• After the great palace fire of 1834, the Commons chamber was recreated with a remarkably similar medieval design, perpetuating a political tradition that remains recognisable today.

A Building Interwoven with History

St Stephen's has touched many lives throughout the centuries:

• From the medieval masons who worked through the Black Death to complete the chapel.
• To the generations of MPs who have debated and clashed in the Commons chamber.

Themes and Legacy

John Cooper threads together:

• Religion
• Politics
• Art
• Architecture
• Narrative history

This story of the lost chapel reveals an iconic building that mirrors Britain's transition from medieval divine-right monarchy to modern parliamentary democracy.