The Tower Chapels

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, Cal. · Jun 25, 1902

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 28, No. 26.

The Tower Chapels

THERE are two chapels of note, but not renowned for the Gospel there preached. One—St. John's—is noted as being one of the finest specimens of Norman architecture in the country; the other—St. Peter ad Vincula—for having buried within its chancel rail not less than twelve eminent persons, every one of whom was beheaded. There is buried with them, the only one with his head on his body, a constable of the Tower, whose name we do not now recall. Macaulay well says of this place: "In truth there is no sadder spot on earth than this little cemetery. Death is there associated with . . . whatever is darkest in human destiny, with the savage triumph of implacable enemies, with the inconstancy, the ingratitude, the cowardice of friends, with all the miseries of fallen greatness and of blighted fame." And the chapel well represents the whole Tower. Upon its wall are still the pencilings of despair, and now and then a sentence of hope in the blest hereafter.