Westminster Abbey Church

The Westminster Abbey church is located in London. It was previously titled the Collegiate Church of St Peter at Westminster. The Westminster Abbey is regarded as among the most notable religious buildings that are located in London, England. It also has traditional relevance as it’s a place of coronation as well as burial sites for the English monarchs and later on the British monarchs. Before the monarch was dissolved in the year 1539, the Westminster Abbey building was a Benedictine Monastic church. The following years, 1540 to 1556, the Westminster Abbey was then referred to as a cathedral, but this did not last for long. From the year1560, the structure was no longer a cathedral or an Abbey, but instead it assumed the status of a Church of England “Royal Peculiar”. This meant that the church was directly responsible to the sovereign. The Westminster Abbey is an historic site precisely due to the great kings and royalties that are buried within this area. Approximately 3000 individuals are presumed to have been buried here. This place has equally held approximately 1066 coronations since its establishment. As such, it highly considered significant to the people even to date with the thriving civilization. This paper therefore seeks to highlight what the Westminster Abbey is, what it represents and the significance it holds for the larger community.

What is it?

The Westminster Abbey is a London church. It’s a site that hosts coronations and ceremonies that significantly impact the nation. The church is situated on the West side of the Houses of Parliament in the Greater London borough of Westminster. It’s also been named has a World Heritage site by UNESCO in 1987 alongside other historic structures such as the Houses of Parliament and the St.Margaret’s Church. As a prehistoric building that holds much of British history, it attracts people of all walks of life who are interested in learning and explore more about it.  Approximately, one million visitors tour the 700- year bold building to partake in its history while they get acquainted with the rich history of the events that occurred at the place (Mount, 2015).

Who made it?

The Westminster Abbey had been previously constructed in the year 1045 into Edward’s Abbey. It survived all along until the 13th

century when King Henry the third choose to rebuild the church into a Gothic style of architecture. This era was marked by the booming of cathedrals. King Henry the third declared that Westminster Abbey be designed into a great monastery (Dean and Chapter of Westminster, 2018). Also, it was made into a place of worship, burial place for the monarchs and a coronation place. Henry appointed three masons who chiefly oversaw the construction of the building. These were Henry of Reyns, Robert of Beverly, and John of Gloucester. Most of the architectural designs resembled and were greatly influenced by the upcoming cathedrals at Chartwers, Reins, and Amiens. Henry borrowed architectural ideas such as the apse with radiating chapel as well as Gothic characteristics such as pointed arches, rose windows, ribbed vaulting and the flying buttresses (Minimo, 2012). It also had some English features which include single aisle rather than double as well as evident in the molding of the main arches, the overall sculptural decoration and finally the use of lavish polished Pourbeck marble on the columns. The Gothic architectural style in its marvelous design and structure was also meant to maintain traditional space and building layouts.

What came before that impacted its creation?

The shrine upon which the Westminster church sits was founded back in 616. It was apparently miraculously consecrated following the vision of the Saint Peter by a fisherman at the River Thames. The first site was built by Edward the Confessor between the years of 1045 to 1050. It was later consecrated in the year 1065 on December 28th. Upon Edwards’s failure to honour his vow to go on a pilgrimage, the Abbey was then established as way to redeem (Sacred destination, 2018).

Importance of the Westminster Abbey

The Westminster church has always been and also continues to be a very significant historic structure since its establishment. Its significance can be classified between three periods which include at the time of its inception, the continued significance over time, and finally, its importance to the current western civilization. The main reason behind construction of Westminster Abbey church was for the purposes of worship and prayer then followed other responsibilities such as coronation and burial site. As a worship and prayer center, the church provided consistent and high standard services to its congregation. Also, the church daily prayers were conducted to show the unique closeness and a link to the Royal Family and the Sovereign (Westminster Abbey.org, np). Thirdly, it served the purpose of maintaining close relations with the Sovereign, Members of the Royal Family, and the Royal Households. Fourth, although King Henry had most parts of the previous establishment demolished to create room for the new architectural style, the Shrine of St. Edward the Confessor was retained to serve as national and international pilgrimage.

The significance of the church has continuously been evident for all the years that it’s been in existence. Some of the notable aspects of the church include their continued efforts to                                                               portray the church as a strong example of setting moral standards for the general public. Also, they have all along strived to give an image of a respected institute that upholds the need for spiritual growth for its participants. The church choir is one to be marveled at. Over the years, the church has developed and maintained the highest standards of music and general/ basic education to the community around. It has tried as much as possible to draw more people into Christianity, teach morals and values, all aimed at steering an upright generation. The church has also accomplished the other responsibilities such as the coronation which is an event of national and international significance. As a burial site, the church maintains its historic prestige as being a burial site of the most royal and greatly honored kings of the time (Westminster Abbey.org, np). This alongside with its spectacular architectural design that millions of people have visited the area to witness for themselves has promoted local and international tourism. Following these events, the church was named as a prehistoric feature and thus they have continued to ensure good relations with the commonwealth.                         

The western civilization relates within the church uniquely as well as upholds some of their important aspects that have a part of the church since it was established. The Westminster Abbey church strives to maintain a positive social engagement with the current society through charitable acts while also promoting the same culture among its staff members. Also, the church strives to maintain social engagement through promotion of apprenticeship schemes within the surrounding community members. In regard to the millions of visitors that arrive at the site, the church has established high standard/quality care to effortlessly and comfortably accommodate all its visitors. Provide them with an ample and peaceful environment that promotes spiritual, growth (Westminster Abbey.org, np). Besides the hospitality to the numerous visitors to the place, the church significantly caters for its staff members and volunteers by investing in their skills. Similarly, the church provides Christian leadership, spiritual nourishment for its volunteers and staff members.                        

Works Cited

Dean and Chapter of Westminster, (2018). Architecture. Westminster Abbey. Retrieved 22nd Oct 2018 from https://www.westminster-abbey.org/about-the-abbey/history/architecture/

Minimo G. Bighani, (2012). The Westminster Abbey. Art & Architecture in Different Periods. Retrieved 22nd Oct 2018 from https://id14withmamquevedo.wordpress.com/2012/03/13/the-westminster-abbey/

Mount Harry, (2015). Why Westminster Abbey is one of the finest churches in the world. The Telegraph. Retrieved 22nd Oct 2018 from https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/art/architecture/12055717/Why-Westminster-Abbey-is-one-of-the-finest-churches-in-the-world.html

Westminster Abbey.org, (np) Westminster Abbey: Its Present role and future plans. Retrieved 22nd Oct 2018 from https://www.westminster-abbey.org/media/4121/westminster-abbey-five-year-plan.pdf

Sacred destination, (2018). Westminster Abbey, London. Retrieved 22nd Oct 2018 from http://www.sacred-destinations.com/england/london-westminster-abbey