Westminster Abbey, the official name of which is the Collegiate Church of Saint Peter at Westminster, is one of the UK's most visited places by tourists.
It is located near the Palace of Westminster to its west. Westminster Abbey is the place for coronation and burial for British monarchs.
It is believed that the shrine was first founded in around 616 on the Thorney Island after a fisherman on the River Thames saw a vision of Saint Peter. Nevertheless, the existence of this shrine is uncertain.
The historic Abbey was built between 1045-1050 by Edward the Confessor. He started rebuilding St Peter's Abbey (a church that was built by Saxons) and it was the first church in England built in the Romanesque style. The whole building was completed and constructed by 1065. A little after, Edward the Confessor was buried in the church. The first documented coronation that occurred in the Westminster Abbey was that of William the Conqueror (1066).
At that time, the Abbey served as a dwelling for Benedictine monks.
It was Henry III who began constructing the Church we see now. He ordered to build it in a Gothic style in honour to Edward the Confessor. Later, it became his burial place too.
This construction took place between 1245-1517 and was mainly finished during the reign of King Richard VII by the architect Henry Yevele.
A perpendicular style chapel dedicated to the Virgin Mary (also known as the Henry VII Chapel or the Lady's Chapel) was added by the order of Henry VII in about 1519.
During the Dissolution of the Monasteries (which occurred between 1536 and 1541 in England, Wales and Ireland), the Abbey was saved from the destruction thanks to its royal connections. The Abbey was restored to the Benedictines under the Catholic Mary I of England, but the following year they were pushed away again by Elizabeth I.
In 1560, Elizabeth re-established the Church as a Royal Peculiar. This means that it belongs to the ruling monarch, and is not governed by any diocese of the Church of England - it made it the Collegiate Church of St Peter.
The abbey's two western towers were built between 1722 and 1745 by the English architect Nicholas Hawksmoor.
Since the Christmas day coronation of William the Conqueror in 1066, all English monarchs (except Edward V and Edward VIII) have been crowned in the Abbey. The traditional cleric in the coronational ceremony is the Archbishop of Canterbury.
It's interesting to know that Westminster Abbey has got tombs not only of the monarchs but also of some other important people... From the Middle Ages, inside the chapels aristocrats were buried, while monks and other people related to the Abbey were buried in the cloisters and areas. One of those people was Geoffrey Chaucer, an English poet and writer. He was working in the abbey as master of the King's works. After him lots of other poets, writers and musicians were buried there and this area became known as Poets' Corner.
In addition to serving as a site for royal coronations and burials, Westminster Abbey has famously been the place for royal weddings. The wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer in 1981, was watched by millions of people.
Inside the Westminster Abbey there is also the Grave of the Unknown Warrior that was placed there in 1920.
Westminster Abbey is still a working house of worship. The building hosts regular weekly church services every Sunday. It has played an important role in British cultural, social and political life for more than 1000 years! And it's still one the most famous and beautiful religious buildings in the world!
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