King's College Chapel
King's College Chapel is the late Gothic chapel of King's College on King's Parade in Cambridge, built between 1446 and 1515. Visitors come for the largest fan vault in the world, a rich set of 16th-century stained glass and Rubens' Adoration of the Magi above the altar.
Photos
Yusuf Erer
Building the chapel
Henry VI founded the chapel as a university counterpart to Eton College, and building ran in phases from 1446 to 1515, through the Wars of the Roses and the reigns of several kings. The great fan vault went up between 1512 and 1515 under master mason John Wastell, and it is the reason most people stop dead as they walk in.
What to look for
Most of the windows date from 1515 to 1531 and were made largely by Flemish glaziers; the west window is a Victorian addition of 1879. The wooden screen dividing the ante-chapel from the choir was put in by Henry VIII in the 1530s and celebrates his marriage to Anne Boleyn. Above the altar hangs Rubens' Adoration of the Magi, painted in 1634 and installed here in 1968.
Hearing the choir
The chapel is a working place of worship. The King's College Choir sings services on most days during term, and the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols is broadcast from here by the BBC on Christmas Eve. Hearing a service is a very different experience from a daytime visit. Afterwards, Great St Mary's is just across King's Parade.
Highlights
- Built 1446–1515, founded by Henry VI
- World's largest fan vault, by John Wastell
- Stained glass from 1515–1531
- Rubens' Adoration of the Magi above the altar
- Home of the Nine Lessons and Carols broadcast
Good to know
- It is an active chapel, and services, concerts and college events can affect visiting.
- King's College publishes opening times, tickets and an accessibility guide on its visitor pages.
Frequently asked questions
Sources: en.wikipedia.org · kings.cam.ac.uk