Westminster Abbey in UK. Image : Greg Sparrow

Westminster Abbey in UK. Image : Greg Sparrow


In the middle of the tenth century the Benedictine monks established Westminster Abbey in England as their daily worship place and since then it became the coronation church. Westminster Abbey is also the final resting place of seventeen monarchs of the Kingdom.

Standing as one of the most distinguished of Gothic buildings, Westminster Abbey is also a graveyard of the notable personalities of the UK. A marvelous collection of historic paintings, stained glass, pavements, textiles and other artifacts are also kept here. Westminster Abbey is also considered to be the most significant single collection of monumental sculpture in the Kingdom. The Library consists of agglomeration of historic records of the Abbey and the Dean and Chapter of Westminster’s important documents reflecting the long and assorted history of Westminster Abbey. It works like a center of research and exploration.

Westminster Abbey
Westminster Abbey

Westminster Abbey as the burial ground is full of tombs, statues and monuments. Almost 3300 people are buried in the Church and monasteries. With the passage of time the structures of Westminster Abbey has observed many alterations. The current structure was mostly constructed in the gothic pattern from 1245 to 1272 by Henry III. Afterwards the Chapel of Henry VII was added between 1503 and 1512 and the two West Front Towers were erected in 1745.

Westminster Abbey, Church Hall
Westminster Abbey, Church Hall

In the nineteenth century the most recent addition was done as the North entrance of Westminster Abbey. The Abbey’s nave comprises of a grave of an unknown warrior and a marble memorial stone for Winston Churchill. The Cloister of the Westminster Abbey was ruined completely due to a fire in 1298 and in the thirteenth century it was reconstructed.

The Chapter house of the Westminster Abbey is also a worth seen beauty. This octagonal Chapter house is one of the largest of its kind in England and the most significant part is its genuine tile floor dating from 1250 and 14th century murals. On the whole Westminster Abbey displays as the magnificent emblem of Kings, queens, statesmen and soldiers; poets, priests, heroes and villains of the amazing British history.

Westminster Abbey is one of the most visited places of United Kingdom not only as a historic place but also as a sacred worship place for thousands of people to perform their religious duties. Recently, Westminster Abbey was also chosen for wedding ceremony of Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.


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