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The Chapels Royal. By the Venerable Archdeacon Sinclair. (E. Nash. 20s. net.)—Twenty royal chapels of the United Kingdom are here described, and pictures of most of them, chiefly interior views, by Mr. Louis Weirter are given. Of those in London, Henry VII.'s Chapel at Westminster and the Savoy Chapel are the best known as places of worship. It is some- times forgotten that the Banqueting Hall in Whitehall was used as a chapel for many years before it became the Museum of the United Service Institute. The two churches in the Tower are known to sightseers, but one is now only used by the garrison and the other scarcely used at all. The illustration of St. John's Church is here carelessly entitled "The Chapels of St. John and St. Peter." The private chapels in Buckingham Palace and at Windsor are of small public interest, and are very briefly men- tioned. The chapel in St. James's Palace and the " German " chapel, now on the Marlborough House side of the road, have more historical interest, chiefly connected with royal consorts, for St. James's was intended to be a Roman Catholic chapel for Henrietta Maria and was completed for Catharine of Braganza ; at the other the Lutheran service in German or Danish is still continued, as well as the English service. The chapel at Ken- sington, having been moved during the residence of the Duchess of Kent, was closed some ten years ago, when economies were made in the staff of royal chaplains. How many people could name the seven royal chapels in Scotland, which, as a loyal Scot, the author includes ? To the ruin of Holyrood he adds the abbey churches or the chapels of Edinburgh Castle, Dunfermline, Scone, Stirling, Linlithgow, and Falkland. Of Holyrood he says that the abandonment of this national Westminster Abbey, in spite of Lord Leven's bequest, was due to the " light and free humour of the leaders of Scottish opinion." It is sad to read that the chapel of Stirling Castle is used as a barrack store. Apparently King George thought of restoring it last year, but "the staff of the Royal Engineers in Scotland" reported that the architectural features of interest were obliterated. One wonders if anyone else was con- sulted. Linlithgow, too, is in ruins, and Falkland Palace has passed into the private ownership of devout Catholics. When we have also St. George's Chapel and—of smaller note—the chapel in Dublin Castle, rebuilt a century ago by John, Duke of Bedford, it will be realized that Archdeacon Sinclair has put together a volume of great interest, full of opportunities for allusive historical writing. He conscientiously refers to his authorities by footnotes, and does not attempt any original research. He is content with the old explanation of "Maiden" as applied to Edinburgh Castle, and, though generally up-to-date, he refers to the tombs of Edward IV. and Henry VI. at Windsor without mentioning the recent altera- tions by which the strong usurper and his weak, saintly victim now lie on each side of an altar of reconciliation. Nor is our author painfully accurate or he would not have described Sir Reginald Bray as " Prime Minister to " Henry VII., and Cromwell's son-in-law as "Falconbridge."
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