King's College Chapel, Aberdeen

The King’s College Chapel in Aberdeen is a central part of the University of Aberdeen's historical landscape. Founded in 1495 as the University and King’s College of Aberdeen, this formerly independent institution is now a key part of the University of Aberdeen, with its most iconic structure being the late 15th-century King's College Chapel. Situated in Old Aberdeen, this chapel stands as the focal point of the King’s College campus, with its construction beginning in 1498 and concluding with its consecration in 1509.

The chapel’s most remarkable feature is its Crown Tower, a distinctive architectural element that has become symbolic of the university itself. The chapel is dedicated to the Trinity and the Blessed Virgin Mary, with its name also paying tribute to King James IV of Scotland, the institution’s principal patron. Inside, the chapel holds one of the most complete medieval church interiors in Scotland, notably featuring 16th-century choir stalls and a rood screen dating from around 1509.

Serving as more than just a place of worship, since 1928, the ante-chapel has acted as a war memorial for the university, commemorating 524 students who lost their lives in the First and Second World Wars. The chapel also holds historical significance as the burial site of the college’s founder, Bishop Elphinstone, and its first principal, Hector Boece, although the exact location of Elphinstone’s body remains a mystery. The chapel’s design, inspired by Solomon’s Temple, gives it a unique place in both religious and academic history.