Domus Dei (House of God), Portsmouth

The Domus Dei, Latin for “House of God”, stands as a medieval hospice-turned-Garrison Church managed by English Heritage. Founded around 1212 by Bishop Peter des Roches of Winchester, it originally served as an almshouse and hospice for poor travellers and pilgrims. The nave functioned as a hospital ward with beds lining its vaulted sides, while the chancel was the attached chapel.

In 1450, the chapel became the site of a shocking murder when Bishop Adam Moleyns of Chichester was dragged from the service and killed by disgruntled seamen over delayed pay. This act led to Portsmouth's excommunication-a ban that lasted nearly six decades until 1508. Following the Reformation, the building was repurposed as an armoury and later the residence of Portsmouth’s military governor, before being restored to a Garrison Church in the mid-18th century.

The church reached its zenith in 1662, hosting the wedding of King Charles II and Catherine of Braganza. It underwent extensive Victorian restoration from 1865, with oak stalls commemorating military heroes such as Nelson and Wellington. Although the nave was gutted by German bombing in January 1941, the chancel survived intact, and the aisles were re-roofed in 1995. Today, the building features evocative 20th-century stained-glass windows that celebrate both military history and its ecclesiastical purpose.