St Margaret's Chapel
London Road, Gloucester

The Chapel, previously dedicated to The Holy Sepulchre and known as St Sepulchre, has had a long and fascinating history. It appears to have been part of a monastic institution set up under the patronage of the Benedictine Abbey of St Peter (now Gloucester Cathedral) for the benefit of those suffering from the then incurable disease of leprosy. The Chapel is situated a little under a mile outside of the mediaeval city boundary gates as was common in Europe in the Middle Ages for the placing of hospitals (refuges) for the sufferers of leprosy.

The Chapel is now under the patronage of St Margaret of Scotland (died 1083) a patronage shared by only one other ancient place of worship in the area.

It is not known when the first Chapel was built, but the fact that Alured, Bishop of Worcester (1158-1163) granted the residents of St Margaret's the right to be buried in their own churchyard suggests that the Chapel was established well before his time. The Chapel seems to have been fully maintained during the period 1200-1500AD.

Later, in the 14th Century the control of the Chapel and Hospital eventually changed and accommodation was provided for the deserving poor. Few records have survived, but in 1563 the inmates of the Hospital were listed as a Reader and Ten poor men. St Margaret's Chapel apparently provided a place of spiritual sustenance for the local community as well as for the residents. The Registers for the years 1790-1845 have been preserved.

The present Chapel building is thought to date from the early 1400's but incorporates earlier masonry in the west wall. It was restored in 1846 and again in 1875 when the south vestry was added.

Since 1934 the Gloucester Charities Trust have administered the Chapel and the accommodation for the residents in the form of flats. They appoint the Chaplain who at this time is full-time and also resident. Chapel services at St Margaret's are at present twice a month and are open to the public. For those with interest, 150 metres northwest of St Margaret's is another leper Chapel, St Mary Magdalene, sadly now closed. This belonged to the Augustinian House of Llanthony Secunda Priory.