The Guards Chapel

The first service to be held in this garrison church, then known as The Royal Military Chapel, St James’s Park, took place on 6th May 1838.

Destruction
On Sunday 18th June 1944 at 11:00am, during the morning service, the chapel was hit by a flying bomb that entered at the western end and exploded. It all but destroyed the building, only the apse being undamaged. One hundred and twenty-one people, soldiers and civilians, were killed and many others injured. The six silver candlesticks and the cross, still used for normal services today, were in use at the time but were unmoved by the explosion, and the candles remained burning after the chapel had crashed in ruins.

The rebuilding of the chapel started in 1962 and the rededication took place in November 1963.

The chapel is used by all denominations of the Christian Church represented in the Royal Army Chaplains Department but the normal services on Sunday are conducted in accordance with the rite of the Church of England.