6. Westminster Abbey

6. WESTMINSTER ABBEY

Westminster Abbey is just to the west of the Palace of Westminster. It is one of the oldest buildings in London and one of the most important religious centres in the country (Church of England). The Abbey was built by Edward the Confessor in the Romanesque style. After the Norman Conquest in 1066 and the death in battle of the last Anglo-Saxon king, William the Conqueror was crowned there on Christmas Day 1066. Every king and queen has been crowned here since then.

Also, many kings and queens and famous people are buried or commemorated at Westminster Abbey. Its founder, Edward the Confessor, was made a saint after his death and he is buried in a special chapel dedicated to him. His shrine is at the heart of the Abbey Church and is surrounded by the tombs and memorials of many great men and women from British History. In 1245 Henry III pulled down Edward’s church (except the nave) and replaced it with the present abbey church in the Gothic style. The chapel of Henry VII (begun c. 1503), in Perpendicular Gothic style, is famous for its exquisite fan vaulting. Above the original carved stalls hang the banners of the medieval Order of the Bath. The western towers were the last addition to the building – they were completed in about 1745. More changes were done in the 19 th century. The abbey was heavily damaged by bombs in World War II, but it was restored soon after the war.

1 THE WEST DOOR The abbey has many tombs and memorials of famous British people, such as Sir Isaac Newton. Part of the south transept is known as Poets’ Corner and includes the tombs and memorials of Geoffrey Chaucer, Lord Byron, Charles Dickens and many others. The north transept has many memorials to British statesmen. The tomb of the “Unknown Warrior,” whose remains were brought from Flanders (Belgium) in 1920, is in the centre of the nave near the west door.

Prince William and Kate Middleton will marry at Westminster Abbey on April 29, 2011, which has been declared a bank holiday in celebration.

2 For detailed information about Westminster Abbey, consult this web page: http://www.westminster-abbey.org/

FIND OUT

1. Who is the head of the Church of England?

2. Find the meaning of these words:

saint, chapel, shrine, fan vaulting, stalls, transept

3. What is King Edward’s Chair? Find a photograph of it.

4. What is the Order of the Bath?

5. What are the main characteristics of the Gothic style of architecture?

6. Which famous queen, daughter of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn is buried with her sister, Queen Mary, in the Lady Chapel?

3 FLOORPLAN OF WESTMINSTER ABBEY