St.John's Chapel, Tower of London 1078

St. John's Chapel in the Tower of London was built around 1080 by Gundulf of Rochester, utilizing the Romanesque style, in stone. The chapel is an excellent example of the ways that architecture reflects social and institutional power. Commissioned by William the Conqueror, the Tower of London, including St. John’s Chapel, served as a military fortress, a royal residence, and a prison, all rolled into one. Its imposing structure was designed to intimidate and control the local population, both physically and symbolically. Within this context, the Chapel provided a space for religious observance for the royal family and the Tower's inhabitants, reinforcing the divine right of kings. To better understand the history of the chapel and its role within the Tower, historians can draw upon primary source documents such as royal decrees, architectural plans, and chronicles of the time. These resources help to understand the complex interplay between politics, religion, and architecture in medieval England.