On 13 April 1598 the Edict of Nantes was issued by Henry IV of France, allowing freedom of religion to the Huguenots, a French Protestant community.

In England, freedom of worship had been granted to Protestants by Edward VI, by Royal Charter of 1550. Following this, many French Protestants flocked to London to escape the religious wars in France. On arrival in England they needed somewhere to worship.

St George’s Chapel had been given the hospital and advowson of St Anthony’s in the City of London by Edward IV in 1475. By 1563 the religious foundation was largely brought to an end, and the church building in Threadneedle Street was leased to the French Protestant community in London during Elizabeth I’s reign. The first such lease held in the College Archives is dated 4 August 1581 and describes the church as ‘the church called St Anthonies Chappell now commonly called the French Church for the use of people to resorte thither to their divine service’ [SGC XVI.2.2].

The original church was destroyed during the Great Fire of London, but a new one was soon built and the site continued to be leased by the College to the French Congregation until 1841, when the church was demolished to make way for the new Royal Exchange. The Dean and Canons demanded £2100 from the Corporation of the City of London in compensation for their interest in the French Protestant Church, Threadneedle Street [Chapter Acts, 22 January 1840: SGC VI.B.10].

Eleanor (Assistant Archivist)

St George’s Chapel has long held documents relating to the early culture and organisation of the Poor Knights of Windsor (renamed the Military Knights of Windsor in 1833), including copies of the early statutes, ordinances and attendance registers and a number of petitions issued collectively by the Knights. We have recently acquired a large collection of twentieth century documents which were previously kept by the Governor of the Military Knights. This extensive collection includes photographs, correspondence, attendance registers, diaries, and a number of histories written about the Knights. The documents in this collection contain biographical details about recent Military Knights, and provide evidence of the various social and religious activities of the Knights.

The documents have been catalogued using international standards for archival description. They have also been treated with conservation techniques, ensuring that they are preserved for use by future researchers. All our documents relating to the Poor or Military Knights of Windsor are readily searchable on our electronic database. If you wish to consult this newly catalogued collection, or to make an enquiry relating to the Poor or Military Knights, then please contact us.

John (Archives Assistant)

The Edict of Nantes of 1598 had allowed freedom of religion to the Huguenots, a French Protestant minority in a predominately Roman Catholic France. When Louis XIV renounced the Edict in 1685 and declared Protestantism illegal in France, many Huguenots fled to England. Among these refugees was a Huguenot minister, André Majendie, whose son and grandson would become Canons of Windsor.

André’s son, John James Majendie, came to Windsor as English language instructor to Queen Charlotte, shortly after she had emigrated from Germany in 1761 to marry George III. She remained his patron and friend, appointing him her domestic chaplain and tutor to her two eldest sons, George, Prince of Wales, the future George IV, and Frederick, Duke of York. Ordained in the Anglican Church after a brief spell as Huguenot pastor to the French Church of the Savoy, Majendie became Prebend of Netherarvon in Salisbury (1752-1783), Prebend in the Diocese of Worcester (1769-1774) and Canon of Windsor (1774-1783). Here he resided in 3 Canons’ Cloister, occupying the fifth stall in St George’s Chapel until his death in 1783.

John James’ son, Henry William Majendie, followed his father’s career in two respects: from 1776 he served as tutor to one of the King’s sons – the future William IV- and in 1785 was appointed Canon of Windsor. Henry had the unusual experience of travelling much of the world with his royal charge, accompanying the Prince William on HMS Prince George, during the American War of Independence, visiting New York in November 1782. According to the DNB -”it was as a direct reward for this service that Majendie was appointed a canon of Windsor in 1785 and he deferred marriage until he received that appointment”. Occupying the third stall in the Chapel, he was allocated 2 Canons’ Cloister in 1785, but moved to 10 Canons’ Cloister in 1792, probably to accommodate his growing family. He and his wife had thirteen children in all, nine of whom were baptised in the Chapel between 1786 and 1797. The following year, he resigned his Windsor canonry on his appointment as Prebend of St Paul’s Cathedral and as Vicar of New Windsor, thus maintaining his local connection. He became Bishop of Chester in 1800, and served as Bishop of Bangor from 1809 until his death in 1830.

Clare (Archivist and Chapter Librarian)