Westminster Abbey

Built between the 13th and 16th centuries, Westminster Abbey is famous for its royal connections, housing the shrine of St. Edward the Confessor and the tombs of kings and queens, alongside memorials to numerous famous figures.

The Abbey has been the site of every British Coronation since 1066 and has hosted countless royal occasions, including sixteen royal weddings. Despite its grandeur and historical significance, Westminster Abbey is still an active church dedicated to regular worship and serving as the stage for national celebrations and ceremonies. It is not a cathedral or a parish church but a "Royal Peculiar," which means it falls directly under the jurisdiction of the British monarch rather than the church hierarchy.

Westminster Abbey began in the 1040s when King Edward the Confessor established his royal palace near the River Thames on what was known as Thorney Island. Adjacent to this was a small Benedictine monastery, founded around 960 A.D. Edward chose to expand this monastery significantly, constructing a large stone church dedicated to St. Peter, which became known as the "West minster," distinguishing it from St. Paul's Cathedral in the City of London. Unfortunately, Edward was too ill to attend the church's consecration in December 1065 and passed away shortly after. His remains were later interred in the Abbey.

Edward's original Abbey traces can still be seen in the undercroft and the Pyx Chamber. The undercroft was part of the domestic quarters for the monks, and the Pyx Chamber was used to store royal treasures. One of the earliest significant events at the Abbey was the Coronation of William the Conqueror on Christmas Day in 1066, which set the tradition for future monarchs. Edward's body was moved to a more magnificent tomb in 1161 after his canonisation.

In the mid-13th century, King Henry III rebuilt Westminster Abbey in the Gothic style, a popular architectural trend sweeping through Europe. Henry envisioned the Abbey as a place of worship and a site for royal coronations and burials. The new church was consecrated in 1269, though Henry died before the nave could be completed, leaving parts of the older structure attached to the Gothic building for years.

Westminster Abbey has been the site of every British Coronation since William the Conqueror, except for Edward V and Edward VIII, who were never crowned. The Coronation Chair, a symbol of this long-standing tradition, remains in the church today. Henry III also moved Edward the Confessor's body to a grander tomb behind the High Altar. Surrounding Edward's shrine are the tombs of medieval kings and their consorts, including Henry III, Edward I, Eleanor of Castile, Edward III, Philippa of Hainault, Richard II, Anne of Bohemia, and Henry V.

In addition to royal burials, Westminster Abbey is home to around 3,300 tombs and monuments, making it one of the country's most significant collections of monumental sculpture. Among the most poignant is the grave of the Unknown Warrior, located near the west door. This grave has become a pilgrimage site, with visiting heads of state often laying wreaths in honour of the fallen.

A significant addition to the Abbey came in the early 16th century when King Henry VII commissioned the construction of the Lady Chapel, which now bears his name. This chapel is known for its stunning fan-vaulted ceiling and the fine tomb crafted by Italian sculptor Pietro Torrigiano. The chapel also features the banners of the Knights Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath, and memorials such as the Battle of Britain window, designed by Hugh Easton, can be found here.

In the 18th century, architect Nicholas Hawksmoor completed the western towers of the Abbey, which had been left unfinished during medieval times. The towers blend the Gothic style of the Abbey with the Baroque fashion of the period.

Much of the Abbey's original medieval stained glass has been lost, but some 13th-century panels can still be seen in the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Galleries. More recent stained glass includes the Queen Elizabeth II window, designed by artist David Hockney.

The history of Westminster Abbey didn't stop with the dissolution of the monasteries in 1540. That year, Henry VIII made Westminster a cathedral, though it was only briefly under the leadership of Bishop Thomas Thirlby. The status of the cathedral was surrendered in 1550, and the Abbey returned to being a royal church. During the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, Westminster Abbey was re-established as a Collegiate Church with a dean, minor canons, and lay staff charged with maintaining daily worship and overseeing Westminster School, one of the top independent schools in the country.

The Abbey's long history was celebrated in 1965-66 during its 900th anniversary, marking its place as a symbol of unity for the British. In 2010, it made history again when Pope Benedict XVI became the first pope to visit Westminster Abbey.

The architectural brilliance of the Abbey is primarily in the Geometric Gothic style, with its eleven-bay nave, two tiers of flying buttresses, and stunning Henry VII Chapel. The Abbey's towering nave, built by Henry Yevele, is the tallest of any Gothic church in England, and the Henry VII Chapel showcases intricate stonework by Robert and William Vertue.

One of the most well-known areas of the Abbey is Poets' Corner in the south transept, where some of Britain's most famous literary figures are commemorated. The tradition began with the burial of Geoffrey Chaucer in 1400, though he was laid to rest there because of his role as Clerk of the King's Works, not for his poetry. Nearby, Edmund Spenser was buried in 1599. Over the centuries, Poets' Corner became the resting place for many more celebrated writers, including John Dryden, Alfred, Lord Tennyson, Charles Dickens, and Rudyard Kipling. Not all writers buried in the Abbey are in the south transept; for example, Ben Jonson is interred standing up in the north aisle of the nave, and Aphra Behn lies in the cloisters.

The Abbey has continued to evolve into modern times. In 2018, the Weston Tower, designed by Ptolemy Dean, was added to allow public access to the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Galleries. This modern addition blends seamlessly with the ancient structure, reflecting Westminster Abbey's unique ability to adapt while remaining deeply rooted in history.