St Paul Stansted

The chapel is built on part of the foundations of the old mansion of Stanstede, where King John and Queen Elizabeth 1st halted in their Progresses. When the new house was built in 1680, the ruins of the old house were converted into a brewery. The brewhouse was converted into a chapel in 1812 and consecrated in 1815, then reconsecrated in 1819 at a service attended by John Keats, who was inspired by the building to write his poems The Eve of St Mark and The Eve of St Agnes.

The Old Testament symbolism in the interior decoration was installed by Lewis Way, whose ambition was to convert the Jews to Christianity. The chapel is believed to be the only church in England with the Ten Commandments in Hebrew on stone tablets on the wall.

Services are held here occasionally throughout the year, and the chapel is used for the dedication of civil marriages performed in Stansted House.

Stansted chapel is part of the Stansted Estate.

Churchwarden
Mr David Parker, Richmond, Forestside, PO9 6EE