by Catherine Lear

Created on: October 10, 2010

Just across the road from the houses of Parliament stands the iconic building that is Westminster Abbey. http://www.westminster-abbey.org/visit-us it is the one place in Britain that you can see where the Kings and Queens of England and of Britain were and are crowned. It is also the place where many of the Kings and Queens lie buried along with many of Britain's best known poets, Statesmen, and soldiers.

The building is 700 years of age although a place of worship was founded on the spot where this beautiful building now stands at least 300 years before that.

Since 1066 when William 1 of Normandy came to England and conquered this Island Westminster Abbey as been the scene of Coronations and at least seventeen monarchs of this island are buried in crypts inside the Abbey.

Many Royal funerals have been held in the Abbey, the last Royal Funeral was that of Queen Elizabeth the Queen mother although she is interred in the grounds of Windsor Castle a few miles out of London. Princes Diana funeral was again held in the Abbey but wished to be buried in her ancestral home of Althorp in Northampton.

The abbey has strong links with many countries Canada, America, and France Germany. The names of all the Canadians who fought and died in the Battle of Britain in 1940 are commemorated in a book in the Royal Air force Chapel.

While Philip Brooks Bishop of Massachusetts who wrote O little Town Of Bethlehem has a memorial. In addition, Martin Luther King has a statue on the West front of the Abbey. Many more influential persons from America can be found inside the Abbey.

Art plays a big part in the Abbey, and it is in front of the high Alter that you can see one of the most wonderful sights in the Abbey; it is called the Cosmati Pavement. Laid on the instructions of King Henry 111 in 1268 it is the only one of its size in the world.

Wall paintings adorn the Abbey and they were painted in the 13 century. Brasses from the 13 century can be seen on tombs. Brasses are metal engravings and are an important part of our British history.

However, while it is nice to walk around and savouring the Abbey for its history lets not forget that this Abbey is predominately a place of Christian Worship and has been for over a Thousand years, and daily services are held in many of the chapels.

In addition, at special dates in the year services are held to commemorate certain people in our British History. 11-17 October each year the Abbey celebrates the life of King Edward the Confessor who re founded the Abbey.

Westminster Abbey is a wonderful work of art inside and outside it plays host to famous Kings, Queens, and Princes. Works of art adorn its walls. It is the main building where Kings and Queens are crowned, and in its crypts it holds past Kings And Queens some good and some bad where else can you see all this, the answer is nowhere it’s a unique building in the history of the United Kingdom.

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