History
Kingston Grammar School was founded on 1 March 1561 by Royal Charter, establishing the “Free Grammar School of Queen Elizabeth, for the education, training and instruction of boys and youths in grammar.” While this date marks the formal beginning of the School, its story stretches much further back, with roots in Kingston that can be traced to the 13th century. That long history is not just recorded in documents; it is visible, tangible and still very much part of daily life at KGS.
A school shaped by history
The Lovekyn Chapel: a remarkable survivor
At the heart of the story about Kingston Grammar School stands the Lovekyn Chapel. Dating back to 1309, it is the oldest complete building in Kingston and the only remaining free-standing chantry chapel in England. Originally founded to provide prayers and masses for the soul of its founder and his family, it is today an elegant, light-filled space with outstanding acoustics, regularly used for musical performances, readings and school events. The Chapel is also available to hire for weddings and concerts.
The Chapel owes its existence to Edward Lovekyn, a prominent Kingston butcher and baker. In 1299, Lovekyn provided the wedding feast for King Edward I when he married Margaret of France. Although the King greatly enjoyed the occasion, it appears the bill was never paid. Lovekyn, who had long wished to establish a chantry chapel, seized the opportunity to approach Edward’s successor, Edward II.
In exchange for cancelling the unpaid debt, Lovekyn received a royal licence to found the Chapel of St Mary Magdalene. Built in 1309, it was endowed with sufficient funds to support a chaplain who would pray for the souls of the Lovekyn family. His son, John Lovekyn, later enriched the Chapel further and set out detailed rules for the services to be held there.
KGS has been educating young people for over 450 years
Founded by Royal Charter in 1561, Kingston Grammar School is one of the oldest schools in the country – with roots in Kingston stretching back even further to the 13th century.
Change, decline and survival
Over the centuries, the fortunes of the Chapel rose and fell. William Walworth, who took over Lovekyn’s business, made substantial grants in 1371, and it is likely that boys were trained as choristers there, receiving a basic education alongside their musical duties.
This came to an abrupt end during the reign of Henry VIII. The dissolution of the monasteries brought daily worship to a halt; the warden was executed in 1540, the Chapel’s endowments were seized by the Crown, and Edward VI’s Chantries Act formally abolished chantry chapels altogether.
Remarkably, the Lovekyn Chapel itself survived.
The birth of Kingston Grammar School
Richard Taverner, High Sheriff of Kingston under Edward VI, received the Chapel’s endowments and may have played a key role in persuading Queen Elizabeth I to establish a grammar school in the town. When she did so in 1561, she granted the Lovekyn Chapel to the newly founded Kingston Grammar School, restoring its former endowments in the process.
The Chapel has belonged to the School ever since.
The names Lovekyn, Walworth, Taverner and Queen Elizabeth I remain woven into the fabric of KGS and are commemorated in the School’s House system, established in 1914.
