WESTMINSTER ABBEY

WESTMINSTER ABBEY (official name – The Collegiate Church of St Peter) is the main national sacred place of England located in one of London’s central districts – Westminster. The Abbey was built under King Edgar in 10 century on the site of several old churches that had stood there before. Edward the Confessor enlarged the abbey and rebuilt it in Norse style; it was dedicated in 1065. Edward the Confessor’s tomb is in the chapel known as the Confessor’s Burial Vault and is located right behind the High Altar. English kings enlarged and adorned the Abbey.

The now existing building was mainly erected in 1245-1269 at the time of Henry III. Its today’s size and appearance Westminster Abbey obtained around the middle of 15 century; two western towers were added in 1740.

The interior dates from the period of the flourishing of Gothic architecture. It is filled with tombs and monuments of many kings, writers, army commanders and other people who deserved such a high honor. Almost all kings of England after William the Conqueror were crowned in the Abbey; numerous events related to the life of the state and the royal family took place here. Here a wooden coronation throne made for Edward I in 1300 that contains in it the Stone of Scone (also called “the Stone of Destiny”) is located. According to a legend, this stone that served as a pillow to patriarch Jacob in Bethel and was used at coronations of kings of Scotland was brought from Scone, near Perth, Scotland, to Westminster Abbey; that was supposed to symbolize submission of Scotland in 1297. In the center of the central nave there is the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior of the WWI.

Westminster Abbey has a layout in the shape of a Latin cross extended on the eastern end by Henry VII chapel, which was built in 1503-1519 in late, so called perpendicular, or Tudor style. Now it is the chapel of the Order of the Bath established by Henry IV in 1399. The total length of the temple with the chapel is 156 meters; the length of the transept is 62 meters. The width of the main and side naves is 22 meters; the width of the transept is 26 meters. The temple is 31 meters high; the towers rise up to a height of 69 meters. The three naves and the transept have a roundabout gallery and are crowned with an arch covering.

The Chamber of the Chapter in the south-eastern corner of the transept was completed in 1253; since 13 century until 1547, meetings of the House of Commons were held in it. The cloister on the southern side was rebuilt after a fire in 1298; interesting tombstones and boards with inscriptions remained here. In the WWII years air bombs hit the Abbey twice without causing any serious damage.