Did you know, Fr Anthony Howe attended the same school in Ipswich 500 years after Cardinal Wolsey, Henry VIII’s most important government minister?
Fr Anthony will be following in Wolsey’s footsteps again after having been appointed by the Queen to work at the Chapel Royal in Hampton Court Palace, which was renovated by the Cardinal five centuries ago.
The Vicar of Christ Church in Staincliffe has just been given the title of Chaplain of HM Chapel Royal Hampton Court Palace and Deputy Priest in Ordinary by the Queen, making him a part of her Ecclesiastical Household.
His duties will involve running the daily services in the chapel, ministering a large group of people including over 400 staff members of Historic Royal Palaces, the thousands of tourists and visitors to the palace and the regular congregation, as well as having occasional Royal duties to attend to.
In 1515 Cardinal Wolsey began transforming Hampton Court, located in Richmond, Greater London, to become one of the largest and most extravagant palaces in the world, often compared to a jewel box because of the chapel’s elaborate Renaissance ceiling.
The chapel has a world-renowned musical heritage with composers such as William Byrd and Henry Purcell performing many debuts of their work in Church Music to the congregation, a tradition continued by the choir of Gentlemen of the Chapel Royal.
Fr Anthony himself studied for a degree in Music at The Queen’s College Oxford before he was ordained.
Fr Anthony Howe claims, 'I am hugely honoured that Her Majesty has appointed me to be chaplain of the Chapel Royal at Hampton Court. I will be part of a long tradition of worship, music and pastoral care that has surrounded the monarch for nearly 1000 years.
‘Having ministered in Yorkshire for over 13 years, leaving will be a double edged sword. It is always sad to say goodbye. But I trust and pray that God will bless the people of Staincliffe and Carlinghow with a faithful priest, and that their faith and love of Christ will grow ever stronger.’
Bishop Tony Robinson, said, ‘I am delighted that Fr Anthony has been appointed to serve as Chaplain in the Royal Household with responsibility for Hampton Court Palace. Given his gifts with music and liturgy he is well-suited to this post.’