The Majesty of Westminster Abbey
At the break of dawn, Westminster Abbey stands as a testament to nearly a thousand years of history. Founded around 960 AD as a Benedictine monastery on Thorney Island, the Abbey’s origins date back to a time when England was still a patchwork of kingdoms.
Edward the Confessor, the Anglo-Saxon king who later became a saint, commissioned a Romanesque church on the site. Consecrated on December 28, 1065, Edward was too ill to attend the ceremony and was buried in the Abbey after his death a few days later. His successor, Harold Godwinson, ruled briefly before his defeat at the Battle of Hastings. The Norman conqueror, William the Conqueror, chose to be crowned in the Abbey, seeking legitimacy by associating himself with Edward. Since then, Westminster Abbey has been the site for the coronation of every English and British monarch, with King Charles III being the latest in a long line that began with William the Conqueror in 1066.
Although few remnants of Edward the Confessor’s original abbey are still visible, one notable exception can be found in a shadowy passage between the east cloister and the chapter house. Here, visitors frequently gather to snap photos of the information panel which reads in multiple languages. “A porta mais antiga do Reino Unido!” “La plus vieille porte du Royaume-Uni!” “La puerta más antigua de Gran Bretaña!”—Britain’s oldest door. This ancient door, rough and solid, was crafted in the 1050s for a long-gone church and later incorporated into the current building. The oak planks from which it was made began growing in Essex when what we now know as England was still a collection of separate kingdoms.
The Abbey we see today is largely the creation of Henry III, who in the 13th century ordered the construction of a new Gothic-style building, replacing Edward’s Romanesque church. This new structure spans 530 feet from the Great West Door to the Lady Chapel and covers 32,000 square feet inside. The towers, completed in the mid-18th century, add to its architectural splendour.
Westminster Abbey is not only a site of coronations but also a royal burial place. It houses the tombs of numerous monarchs, including Edward the Confessor, Henry III, and Elizabeth I. Its Poets’ Corner is a cultural treasure, containing the graves and memorials of literary giants like Geoffrey Chaucer, Charles Dickens, and T.S. Eliot.
The Abbey’s Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Galleries, opened in 2018, showcase over 300 objects, many of which had never been displayed before. These include the Liber Regalis, a 14th-century manuscript detailing the coronation service, and effigies of monarchs used in their funerals. The Westminster Retable, England’s oldest altarpiece, and Henry V’s battle gear are also on display.
Westminster Abbey’s significance extends beyond its historical and architectural glory; it remains a living piece of history, continually adding new chapters through the events it hosts. From state funerals to royal weddings, the Abbey is a backdrop for Britain’s most important ceremonial occasions. The state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II in 2022, watched by millions around the world, highlighted the Abbey’s enduring role in national life.
For more detailed information and to explore its exhibitions, visit the Westminster Abbey official website.
