Like many Middleton clients, the care of a listed building is, for William Charnley, a labour of love. As a member of the Bray Fellowship supporting one of the UK’s most significant architectural landmarks – St George’s Chapel in the grounds of Windsor Castle – William has taken this commitment a step further.
“The College of St George – comprising the Chapel, Cloisters, Deanery, Curfew Tower and Quire – is a self-funding charity and a masterpiece of architectural stewardship,” says William. “It’s an undertaking that I believe will resonate with other Middleton clients, who instinctively tend to appreciate the value of heritage and legacy.”
“St George’s Chapel, which celebrated its 550th anniversary in 2025, is a fundamental part of UK heritage in its own right,” says William. “My personal interest isn’t only in the Grade I listed building, but in the fact that the Chapel has, over the course of time, become a centre for several fields of excellence – philanthropic, educational, musical.”
The charity, for example, supports an intellectual think-tank for leadership and dialogue founded by the late Prince Philip, whose mission is to effect change for the better in society by nurturing wisdom through dialogue. The charity also supports St George’s, a world-renowned Choir School. And the Chapel itself is the setting for historic events, including official visits by heads of foreign states, royal services and weddings.
“All of this”, says William, “combines to make St George’s a vital part of our past, present and future, funded entirely by private philanthropy.”
The College of St George: Points of Interest
- The College of St George was founded in 1348 by King Edward III.
- The Chapel of the College of St George is a ‘Royal Peculiar’ – a church under the direct jurisdiction of the monarch, of which there are fewer than fifteen.
- St George’s Chapel is one of the world’s best examples of ‘Perpendicular Gothic’ architecture. It is open to visitors via the Windsor Castle admission centre.
Learn more about the charity here.