Churches of the British Isles

The church has been considerably enlarged over the centuries. Lady Hoby (pronounced 'hobby') of neighbouring Bisham Abbey was responsible for the building of the church's Hoby chapel to house a magnificent tomb. Major changes took place in 1849. The church was rebuilt into the Decorated style, with the chancel being extended by three metres, and two roofs replacing the one flat span ceiling. Further alterations in 1856 saw the south aisle being rebuilt.

St George's Chapel Windsor Castle is inside the west end of the castle grounds, flanked to its west by Horseshoe Cloister, the castle walls, and Thames Street. It was Henry III's Chapel of St Edward the Confessor, built in the early 1200s. On 6 August 1348 Edward III founded the priestly College of St George here, the seat of his authority. St Edward's chapel was rededicated, and it still serves as home for the sovereign's principal order of chivalry, the Order of the Garter.

Eton College Chapel is on the eastern side of the High Street, overlooking the Keats Lane junction and with its burial ground on its southern flank. That burial ground was the site of the old parish Church of the Assumption of the Virgin. This chapel replaced it after almost forty years of construction, so the old church was demolished about 1480. Today the chapel services retain their important position in the life of the college that Henry VI founded alongside his chapel.

Two photos on this page from the History Files Collection, and one each kindly contributed by Andy Mulhearn and Rachel Powell via the 'History Files: Churches of the British Isles' Flickr group.