A Non-Sectarian Chapel in a Roman Cathedral

In the Cathedral of Toledo, Spain, near the door of exit, is a chapel where a daily service is read, or sung, in which Christians of every sect from any land may take part. This service dates back of the Moors to the time of the early Christianized Goths, or, according to Spanish tradition, this service was established by St. James the Apostle. It consists of the Lord's Prayer, the words of our Lord at the Last Supper, readings from the Epistle of St. James, and a few simple prayers. The service is generally intoned, and is very impressive. It is entirely free from distinctive ritual, Greek, Roman, or Protestant. It is perhaps the one chapel in all the world where all who believe in Christ can worship as with one voice. Its history is interesting. When the Moors took Toledo, one of the terms of capitulation was, that the Christians should be allowed to worship here. Pope Gregory tried to suspend this service, but the people of Toledo defied the Pope, as they had defied the Moors. In 1512 Cardinal Ximenes, Regent for Joanna, rebuilt and beautified this chapel, which is in an unfinished tower, and instituted a special order of priests to maintain the service which has never since been discontinued.