Editing Domus Dei

{{Short description|Church in Hampshire, England}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2015}}
{{Use British English|date=July 2015}}
{{Infobox historic site
| name = Domus Dei
| native_name = 
| native_language = 
| image = Domus Dei Oct 2007.jpg
| caption = 
| type = Church
| locmapin = Hampshire
| coordinates = {{coord|50.788967|N|1.103943|W|region:GB_type:landmark|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
| gbgridref = SZ 63269 99205
| location = [[Old Portsmouth]]
| area = [[Hampshire]]
| built = ca 1212
| architect = 
| architecture = [[Early English Period|Early English]]
| governing_body = 
| owner = [[English Heritage]]
| designation1 = Grade II
| designation1_offname = Royal Garrison Church
| designation1_date = 18 Mar 1999
| designation1_number = {{Listed building England|1245790}}
| designation2 = 
| designation2_offname = 
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| designation3 = 
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}}

[[File:Interior of Domus Dei church.JPG|thumb|right|250px|The interior of the church]]

'''Domus Dei''' (Hospital of [[Saint Nicholas]] and Saint [[John the Baptist]]) was an [[almshouse]] and [[hospice]] at [[Old Portsmouth]], [[Hampshire]], England. It is now also known as the '''Royal Garrison Church''' and is an [[English Heritage]] property and a [[Grade II listed building]].<ref name=NHLE>{{National Heritage List for England|num=1245790|desc=Royal Garrison Church|accessdate=28 November 2018}}</ref>

== History ==
The hospice was established by [[Peter des Roches]] (sometimes wrongly named as de Rupibus), [[Bishop of Winchester]] and [[William of Wrotham]] in around 1212 A.D.<ref name=NHLE/><ref name=Bailey458>{{cite book |last1=O’Brien |first1=Charles|last2=Bailey |first2=Bruce|last3=Pevsner |first3=Nikolaus |last4=Lloyd |first4=David W. |date=2018 |title=The Buildings of England Hampshire: South |publisher=Yale University Press |pages=458–460|isbn=9780300225037}}</ref>

In 1450 an unpopular advisor to the king, Bishop [[Adam Moleyns]] of [[Chichester]] was conducting a service at the chapel of Domus Dei when a number of naval seamen (resentful of being only partially paid and only provided with limited provisions) burst into the church, dragged out the bishop and murdered him.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.the-orb.net/textbooks/muhlberger/rose_wars.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070714043720/http://www.the-orb.net/textbooks/muhlberger/rose_wars.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=14 July 2007|title=Beginning of the Wars of the Roses|publisher=The Orb|accessdate=28 November 2018}}</ref>

As a result of this the entire town of [[Portsmouth]] was placed under the [[Excommunication (Catholic Church)|Greater Excommunication]], an interdict which lasted until 1508, removed at the request of [[Richard Foxe|Bishop Foxe]] of Winchester.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://archive.org/stream/storyofdomusdeio00wrig/storyofdomusdeio00wrig_djvu.txt|page=148|title=The story of the 'Domus Dei' of Portsmouth, commonly called The Royal Garrison church|first=H.P.|last=Wright|publisher=James Parker & Co|year=1873}}</ref>

In 1540, like many other [[chantry]] buildings, it was seized by King [[Henry VIII of England|Henry VIII]] and until 1560 was used as an [[Armoury (military)|armoury]].  After 1560, a mansion built close by the south-side became the home of the local military governor.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.portsmouth-guide.co.uk/local/rgchurch.htm|title=Royal Garrison Church|publisher=Portsmouth Guide|accessdate=16 December 2020}}</ref>

In 1662 the mansion hosted the wedding of King [[Charles II of England|Charles II]] and Princess [[Catherine of Braganza]].<ref name=HE>{{cite book|last1=Elliott|first1=Julia|title=Heritage Unlocked - Guide to free sites in London and the South East|date=2005|publisher=English Heritage|location=London|isbn=1-85074-881-0|pages=72–73}}</ref>

Towards the end of the seventeenth century it fell into disrepair until it was restored in 1767 to become the Garrison church. Once again, the Church fell into disrepair and in 1865 a new restoration project began under the direction of [[G. E. Street]] which lasted ten years.<ref name=HE />

On 10 January 1941 the buildings of Domus Dei were partially destroyed in an attack by [[Luftwaffe|German]] bombers, when all the [[stained glass]] windows were blown out and the [[nave]] was rendered roofless by incendiary bombs and a single high explosive bomb. New glazing was subsequently fitted. Apart from the East window with its traditional design, all the other windows show much of the British Army's relationship to the Church and the City of Portsmouth. The [[chancel]] is intact, but the nave remains roofless.<ref name=NHLE/>

The aisles but not the central nave were re-roofed in 1995.<ref name=Bailey458 /> In October 2021, the building was one of 142 sites across England to receive part of a £35-million grant from the government's [[Culture Recovery Fund]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://historicengland.org.uk/whats-new/news/heritage-and-craft-workers-across-england-given-a-helping-hand/ |title=Heritage and Craft Workers Across England Given a Helping Hand |publisher= [[Historic England]]|date= 22 October 2021|accessdate=23 October 2021}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[List of places of worship in Portsmouth]]

==Further reading==
* {{Cite book|title=The Story of the 'Domus Dei' of Portsmouth: Commonly Called the Royal Garrison Church|author=Henry Press Wright|publisher=James Parker and Co|date=1873}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Royal Garrison Church, Portsmouth}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20060503194006/http://www.memorials.inportsmouth.co.uk/churches/royal_garrison/index.htm Memorials in the church]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070807152936/http://www.hants.gov.uk/discover/places/domusdei.html HCC details]
*[http://www.oldportsmouth.info/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=28&Itemid=32 FOOPA details]
*[https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/royal-garrison-church-portsmouth/  Royal Garrison Church page at English Heritage]

[[Category:1212 establishments in England]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures completed in 1212]]
[[Category:English Heritage sites in Hampshire]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Hampshire]]
[[Category:Hospitals in Hampshire]]
[[Category:Church of England church buildings in Hampshire]]
[[Category:Religious buildings in Portsmouth]]
[[Category:Grade II listed buildings in Hampshire]]
[[Category:Charles II of England]]
[[Category:Catherine of Braganza]]
[[Category:Almshouses in Hampshire]]