is in the upper storey of a medieval malt barn attached to the Old Rectory Farm. It is one of the oldest post-Reformation public Catholic churches in England.
The Rectory Farm, dating from the mid-16th century, belonged to the Augustinian friars of Kenilworth who leased it to John Bishop. At the Dissolution he bought the farm and established a secret Mass centre. There is a priest’s hide in the house. John’s son, William, was born there in 1554 and educated at the clandestine Catholic school in the village. He was ordained a priest at Laon in France in 1583. On 4 June 1623 he was consecrated titular Bishop of Chalcedon at Paris and appointed the first Vicar Apostolic of England. He died on 16 April 1624.
The Grade II* listed chapel and presbytery were restored by Archbishop Maurice Couve de Murville with generous help from English Heritage in 1992-93.
Features of special interest
The Georgian panelling and altar rails are original and there is 18th century wallpaper in the priest’s sacristy.
The painting of the Crucifixion over the altar is from the late 17th century.
The icon of Our Lady with SS Peter and Paul by Peter Murphy was given in 2008 in memory of Merche Bovill, a parishioner who died in 2007.
The one manual chamber organ with its fine mahogany case was made about 1832 by Joseph Robson, organ builder to King George IV. It was restored and rebuilt by Michael Latham and obtained for the chapel in 2008.
The recusant library and most of the collection of antique vestments and plate belonging to the chapel are kept in the museum at Oscott College in Birmingham.