The Peculiar Case of a Royal Peculiar: A Problem of Faculty at the Tower of London

A rare surviving example of early Anglo-Norman ecclesiastical architecture, the late eleventh-century Chapel of St John the Evangelist (St John's) within the Tower of London, stands as a testament to the site's layered history. This study delves into the complex faculty issues surrounding the chapel, highlighting its unique significance even among the Tower's many notable features. The research explores the chapel's origins, tracing back to a ninth-century house-church, and examines its role as a burial place for prominent historical figures, including queens Anne Boleyn, Catherine Howard, and Lady Jane Grey, alongside Cardinal John Fisher and Sir Thomas More, who are now venerated as martyrs in the Roman Catholic Church. The study employs historical analysis and architectural context to shed light on the chapel's enduring importance within the Tower complex.

Hawkins, A. R. J. (2022). The Peculiar Case of a Royal Peculiar: A Problem of Faculty at the Tower of London. Ecclesiastical Law Journal, 24(3), 345–363. https://doi.org/10.1017/s0956618x22000345