The Oldest Chorister

John Mitchell joined the choir of St George's Chapel aged just five years old. When he died at the age of 82, he had been a member of the choir for over 75 years, having also acted as organist for Eton College for 35 years. In his obituary, he was referred to as the oldest chorister in the country.

Sir George Job Elvey

Sir George Job Elvey was Organist and Master of the Choristers at St George’s Chapel for forty-seven years, from 1835 to 1882, making him one of the longest serving Organists in the Chapel’s history. This painting shows Elvey playing the chapel organ towards the end of his career at St George’s.

The Old Dean

Published in “Vanity Fair” in 1876, this Spy cartoon, entitled “The Old Dean”, depicts the Honourable and Very Reverend Gerald Valerian Wellesley, Dean of Windsor, in a wintry scene. Armed with a walking stick and (folded) umbrella he trudges through the snow beside the walls of Windsor Castle with an air of resignation.

The Nativity

In September 1959, the Dean and Canons were contacted by Miss St Leger Forrest, who believed that her great great grandfather had painted certain windows in St George’s Chapel. She described him as an artist in the time of George III, and in her possession were two drawings that had been in the family since that time.

Pirates of the Caribbean

Printed in 1684, this book is entitled Bucaniers of America: Or, a True Account of the Most Remarkable Assaults Committed of late Years upon the Coasts of The West-Indies…more especially, The unparallel’d Exploits of Sir Henry Morgan. As an eye-witness to many of the events, the author was able to provide detailed descriptions of the real Pirates of the Caribbean.

Benjamin West, Monarch of Mediocrity

Historical painter to George III, Benjamin West was for many years one of the country's most popular artists. Changing tastes meant that by the Victorian era his work had completely fallen from favour and he was mocked as the "Monarch of Mediocrity". This is one of his designs for stained glass in the Chapel.

The Charitable Gift of Sir Francis Crane Image of the month

This printed seventeenth century broadsheet held in the St George’s Chapel Archives and Chapter Library (SGC XI.H.11) describes the twists and turns of a long running legal dispute concerning Sir Francis Crane’s bequest to the Poor Knights of Windsor.