For over two centuries, the chapels at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst (RMAS) have served as more than just places of worship; they are the living history of the British Army, dedicated to the memory of those who served and fell.

From Entrance Room to Christ Church (1812–1879)

When the Royal Military College opened in 1812, the chapel was a modest room off the main entrance. One of the first purchases was for an organ and provision was made for an organist at £20 a year. For 67 years, this plain space, complete with an organ and choir loft, served the college. As the campus expanded, a larger dedicated building became necessary.

A photo of the chapel in the 1860s shows a plain room, the apse window was not yet decorated with the stained glass memorial windows to Gentleman Cadet George Ascough Booth, who died in 1868 while at RMC. His image now appears in the lower-left corner of the window wearing scarlet jacket, depicted in his room with a view of the Grand Entrance of Old College through his window. The chapel walls were inset with memorials to officers and their families including Reverend Wheeler and the family of James Butler (Governor RMC), These memorials were moved to the porches inside the two entrances into the new Christ Church.

A Growing Sanctuary of Sacrifice (1879–1922)

The expansion of the College with the opening of the Staff College in 1862 and the completion of the two trident accommodation blocks in January 1863 and 1877 saw the need for a larger chapel, which was completed in 1879.

The Christ Church of 1879 was a long narrow building standing on a north-south axis in Chapel Square. It was a curious building, unlike what one would expect for a church in a military establishment. Colonel R.H. Williams, RE, responsible for the building, modelled it after a Romanesque church in Florence and the interior, with its patterned brickwork, was copied in the fashion of Siena Cathedral.

As the 19th century progressed, the interior of Christ Church began to transform into a solemn archive of imperial conflict. In 1883, a fund was established to create "War Panels" white marble slabs inscribed with the names of graduates who lost their lives on active service.

By the time of the Boer War ten panels had been erected bearing the names of those who had died in the campaigns from 1855 to 1898, and it was hoped to fund the commemoration of earlier campaigns including the Peninsula and Waterloo campaigns.

The sheer volume of casualties during the Boer War forced a significant redesign. To accommodate the 262 names of fallen cadets, the architect G.F. Bodley, RA, was commissioned to modernize the space. He added a new altar, an ornate oak reredos, and repainted the dome. Most famously, the arch above the altar was inscribed with the words:

“Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori” > (It is sweet and honourable to die for one's country)

This inscription formed the basis of the final sermon given in July 1914, just weeks before a generation of officers departed for the Western Front, many never to return.

The Birth of the Royal Memorial Chapel (1922–Present)

The catastrophe of the First World War redefined Sandhurst. With 3,274 graduates lost in the conflict, Christ Church was too small to serve as an adequate memorial. In 1917, Captain Arthur Campbell Martin devised a plan to double the chapel’s size by expanding it on an east-west axis.

Because public funds were unavailable, a national appeal was launched, raising the then-staggering sum of £50,000. Every regiment in the British Army responded, presenting their own white marble panels emblazoned with regimental crests.

The "new" Royal Memorial Chapel was finally consecrated on July 2, 1937, in a grand ceremony attended by King George VI, Queen Elizabeth, and the young Princess Elizabeth.

Today, the Chapel continues to evolve as a site of national remembrance:

• The Second World War Memorials: The chapel houses a massive Roll of Honour recording the names of 19,781 officers from across the British Commonwealth.
• The Chapel of Remembrance: Formerly known as the South Africa Chapel, this sanctuary was renamed in 1957. it contains the Book of Remembrance, a living document updated with the names of all RMAS officers who die on active service.

Every Sandhurst Trust Historical Tour includes a visit to the Royal Memorial Chapel. a highlight for many visitors. Visit our tour page and book one of our upcoming tours to Experience the splendour and quiet dignity of the Royal Memorial Chapel for yourself.