A former Suffolk resident and pupil at Ipswich School has been appointed chaplain and priest in charge at The Chapel Royal at Hampton Court Palace.
Reverend Anthony Howe, 43, grew up in Capel St Mary and attended Ipswich School from 1983-1990, and in recent weeks took up the post of chaplain following the retirement of Canon Dennis Mulliner after 15 years of service. He is one of the youngest chaplains there in recent history.
Ordained in 2000, Mr Howe joins the Chapel Royal following curacies in Newbury and Barnsley, and nine years as the vicar of Staincliffe in West Yorkshire.
He said: “It’s a great honour to be appointed chaplain of the Chapel Royal. When, at the age of four, I made up my mind that I was going to be a priest, I never expected it would lead me to Hampton Court Palace.
“This chapel has been in continuous use since the palace was built 500 years ago, and I look forward to following in the footsteps of my forbears in praying for members of the community, welcoming visitors and doing God’s work in this beautiful and historic setting.”
He will be responsible for serving The Queen in the Chapel Royal, alongside undertaking services for residents and staff of the palace, and also palace visitors and regular worshippers.
His father Christopher Howe, who still lives in Capel St Mary with his wife, Anthony’s mother, Josephine, said: “We are very proud of his achievements. The position will suit him down to the ground, that’s him to a tee.
“He’s done it all. We pushed him and got him through school and after that he made his own way. We stood by him and let him go.
“We look forward to going to visit him and having a real look around.”
Hampton Court Palace director, Paul Gray, said: “We’re delighted to welcome Anthony to the community here.
“The Chapel Royal has seen almost half a millennium of continual worship, and today counts both local residents and palace visitors among its congregation.
“I have no doubt that the chapel will flourish under Anthony’s guiding hand.
“We wish Canon Dennis Mulliner a very happy retirement, after almost 16 years of dedicated service in the Chapel Royal.”
The Chapel Royal was built by Cardinal Thomas Wolsey, who was born in Ipswich and attended Ipswich School, 500 years ago.
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