Monday, March 28, 2011
Recently, the New Liturgical Movement website ran a few posts about Wardour Chapel, a place with a fascinating history. New Wardour Castle was the home of the Arundells, a family of recusants in Wiltshire, and features a fairly large neo-classical chapel that has room for a congregation of about 300.
What is most interesting about Wardour Chapel is that it dates from the period of English history when Catholics were not actively persecuted anymore (so there are no priest holes at Wardour) but were still not allowed to erect freestanding churches. The Arundell family, then, built a chapel in their home between the bedrooms and the laundry room. The family also opened the chapel up to the local Catholics in Wiltshire.
Here are two photographs of the interior. The first focuses on the altar, and the second shows more of the interior.
The chapel is also renowned for its collection of fine antique vestments, including this (I believe) 15th-century chasuble.
More photographs can be found here.
The New Liturgical Movement's posts can be found here, here, here, and here.