St. Edmunds Chapel, Dover

Saint Edmund's Chapel in Dover is a remarkable piece of medieval history dedicated to Saint Edmund. Built in 1262, it served as a wayside chapel and a place of rest for the cemetery established for the poor by the monks of Dover Priory. Located just outside the medieval town near Biggin Gate, it also provided solace for pilgrims en route to the shrine of Thomas Becket at Canterbury Cathedral.

The chapel’s modest dimensions-28 feet in length and 14 feet in width-belie its historical significance. Its rubble masonry walls, two feet thick, are complemented by Caen stone quoins and dressings, reflecting the craftsmanship of the period.

On 30 March 1253, Refreshment Sunday, Bishop Richard of Chichester consecrated the chapel, delivering his final sermon where he expressed his wish to honor Saint Edmund. The next day, he collapsed during Mass and died at the nearby Maison Dieu. His organs were removed in the chapel before his remains were taken to Chichester Cathedral. This connection to the canonized bishop and its dedication to Saint Edmund made the chapel a pilgrimage site.

After the Dissolution of the Monasteries in 1544, the chapel was repurposed as a Navy store, later becoming a dwelling and forge in the 19th century. It survived nearby shelling in 1943 and was saved from demolition in the 1960s by Father Tanner, who purchased it in 1965. Restored using medieval techniques in 1967, it was reconsecrated in 1968 and gained a Grade II* listing in 1973 for its historical value.

Today, Saint Edmund's Chapel is maintained by The Saint Edmund of Abingdon Memorial Trust. Though rarely open to the public, it serves as an ecumenical place of worship with special services, including Eucharists, vigils, and celebrations on the Feast Days of Saint Edmund and Saint Richard. A notable event was the visit by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, on Good Friday in 2014-the first such visit in centuries.