Evensong & Reception at the Tower of London - Friday 14th February 2025

Guests were treated to a rare and privileged experience on 14 February with a visit to the Chapel of St John the Evangelist within HM Tower of London. Nineteen attendees enjoyed Choral Evensong sung by the Choristers of Rochester Cathedral in these magnificent and intimate surroundings.

The occasion highlighted the historic connection between the Tower and Rochester, as Bishop Gundulf built both the Chapel and the White Tower around the same time he was constructing Rochester Cathedral.

Following the service, the Canon of the Tower, Rev Canon Roger Hall, shared a fascinating history of the chapel, once the monarch’s private place of worship. Knights of the Bath were invested here prior to coronations, and it is believed that Anne Boleyn herself worshipped within its walls. Today, the chapel continues to serve as an active place of worship for the Tower community under its resident Chaplain. The visit provided a remarkable insight into a sacred and historic space seldom accessible to the public.