Westminster Abbey: history and curiosities

protection click fraud

A Westminster Abbey is a church located in London, England, being one of the most important Anglican churches. This church was built in the 11th century on an island that was in the middle of the River Thames (the island no longer exists). This church is known for being the site of the coronation of British monarchs since 1066.

In the 13th century, Westminster Abbey was remodeled in the Gothic architectural style. The abbey towers are 69 meters high, and the abbey was considered a World Heritage Site by Unesco in 1987. More than 3300 people were buried in the abbey, and the last English monarch buried there was George II, in the 18th century.

Read too: Notre-Dame Cathedral — the history of one of the most famous cathedrals in France

Summary about Westminster Abbey

Westminster Abbey is a church located in London, England.
It is one of the most important churches in Anglican Church.
British monarchs have been crowned at this abbey since 1066.
This abbey was remodeled in the 13th century to the Gothic style.
It is estimated that over 3300 people are buried inside the abbey.

instagram story viewer

Features of Westminster Abbey

Westminster Abbey is one of the most famous churches in England, being located in London, specifically in the district of Westminster. It was built in the first half of the 11th century and is famous for being the place where almost all English and British monarchs have been crowned since 1066.

This church is a important religious temple of Anglicanism, the doctrine that established the Church of England. Despite its name, Westminster Abbey is not considered an abbey or a cathedral by Anglicans, but a “Royal Peculiar”, that is, a place of religious worship that is under the authority of the British monarch himself.

this church was built in style Romanesque and remodeled in Gothic style, standing out for its two large towers, which are 69 meters high. The current structure of the church was built on the site of a former Benedictine monastery.

An estimated 39 British monarchs were crowned there., plus this church has hosted at least 16 royal weddings since 1100. The abbey also serves as a burial ground for British monarchs, and it is estimated that around 3300 people were buried there. In 1987, Unesco recognized Westminster Abbey as a World Heritage Site.

History of Westminster Abbey

The History of Westminster Abbey dates back to a Benedictine monastery that existed on the site of the abbey in the 10th century. This monastery was established on the site by action of Dunstan, Archbishop of Canterbury - the spiritual leader of the Anglican Church - and King Edgar. At the time, the site of the monastery was a small island in the middle of the River Thames.

The monastery buildings in the 10th century were made of wood, and nothing from this period survives. From 1042 onwards, construction began on an abbey in honor of St. Peter. The new church was built in Romanesque style by order of King Edward, the confessor, who built a palace on the same island. The Benedictine monastery was also rebuilt.

The church was consecrated in 1065 and became known by the population as the “west minster” to differentiate it from St. Peter's Cathedral, known as the “east minster”. King Edward, however, was in too poor health to attend the consecration of the church whose construction he had authorized. He died weeks later, in January 1066, and was buried in the abbey.

Historians believe that Harald II, crowned king in January 1066, was crowned in Westminster Abbey, but there is no documentation to support this. O first monarch who was crowned in this abbey in who is known was Guilherme, the Conqueror, monarch who was crowned king in December 1066.

This church was built in the Romanesque style and remained standing until the 13th century. During the reign of Henry III, it was decided that the abbey would be rebuilt, being remodeled in a Gothic style. The design of the new abbey aimed to maintain it as an important monastery, a place of worship, but also as a place of coronation of English kings.

The construction of the new abbey was also the result of a certain rivalry between the English and the French, since great cathedrals were built in France during the 13th century, as in Amiens, Reims and other cities French. The new abbey was built from 1245 onwards, and the main stages of construction were only completed in 1517. To the Abbey towers, in turn, were only built in the 18th century.

Although its construction took more than 200 years, Westminster Abbey was built in stages, and its consecration took place on October 13, 1269.

Read too: Formation history of the British national monarchy

Coronations and weddings at Westminster Abbey

As already mentioned, Westminster Abbey has been the place where British monarchs have been crowned since 1066, and since that period only two English monarchs were not crowned at the abbey — there was no coronation ceremony for Edward V and Edward VIII. The coronations of monarchs held at the abbey are conducted by the Archbishop of Canterbury, the spiritual leader of Anglicanism.

You British monarchs who are crowned at Westminster Abbey to thesit on King Edward's Throne, also known as the Coronation Chair. This throne has been used for British coronations since 1308.

King Edward's throne, where British monarchs who are crowned sit. [1]

In addition to coronations, Westminster Abbey it was also the scene of important royal weddings. The last of these was Prince William's wedding which was held on April 29, 2011. William, the current heir to the British throne, married Catherine Middleton. Elizabeth II, Queen between 1952 and 2022, was also married at Westminster Abbey.

Facts about Westminster Abbey

Here are some fun facts about Westminster Abbey:

Inside the abbey there is an altar to Edward the Confessor.
Among the monarchs buried inside the abbey are Edward I, Edward III, Henry V, among others.
There are more than 600 monuments of all kinds inside the abbey.
The monastery that made up the abbey was dissolved in 1540.
The towers on the west side of the abbey were unfinished for centuries, only being completed in 1745.
Westminster was converted into a “Royal Peculiar” in 1560 and has maintained that status ever since.
The first pope to visit Westminster Abbey was Pope Benedict XVI, on a visit in 2010.
The last British monarch to be buried in Westminster Abbey was George II in 1760.