Picture1758 memorial for Charles Apthorp, who is buried in the crypt beneath King's Chapel
Memorials line the walls of King’s Chapel in honor of parishioners and their loved ones who have died throughout the chapel’s centuries. Similar to a tombstone, memorials were a beautiful way for family members to commemorate those who had died and had contributed to the life of the church and the community. The purpose of memorials differed, and three kinds of memorials are represented at King’s Chapel. The most common are family memorials, like those of Frances Shirley, Kirk Boott, and Charles Apthorp. The second are parish memorials to honor people for their service to the church like Charles Curtis, Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr., and Joseph May. The third are war memorials, honoring those among the congregation who lost their lives in service. The design of memorials can vary greatly, but each adds to the unmistakable allure of the chapel, and served to connect parishioners to their ancestors above ground, while their bodies remained in the crypt below.
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Click here to learn more about the memorials in the crypt itself!