General Information

The westminster abbey has been around for many hundreds of years, in many forms. in 785 the westminster abbey was an actual abbey, where monks lived and prayed. It was built by Sebert, King of east Saxons. Legend has it that St. Peter appeared at it's consecretion in person! Later, in 1050, Edward the Confessor tore it down and built a new church. It was considerable in size and cruciform (shpaped like a cross) in plan. King Edward was raised in Normandy, therefore building his chruch in norman style. It was unlike any church any one had ever seen before. Unfortunately, he died a week after the church's consecretion. King Edward's church stood for almost 200 years. In 1245, Henry III tore it down and began construction of the church we see today. It was built in a more magnificent in style, influenced by the French Gothic style of the period. By 1259, most of the cathedral was complete. Later, more additions were made-the Norman style nave, the chapel of Henry. But the Abbeys most defining addition was the Western Towers-the two towers in the front of the church, which stand 225 feet, 4 inches off the ground. The Western towers were designed by Nicholas Hawksmoor and John James, in 1745. The Westminster Abbey continues to be a church for British nobility, holding up to 2000 people at each service. Even today, kings and queens are crowned and burried there. Not only is it an important religious and political gathering place, but it is an important museum and shrine. It holds the body of the unknown soldier(from World War 1). It has a burial ground for famous poets and writers, it contains the bodies of kings and saints. But probably the most impressive experience is being able to walk inside those pointed gothic arches, and see the grandeur of another time.

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