Westminster Abbeyby Giovanni Romani - class 1A

What is it? Westminster Abbey is a very important religious meeting point in England, especially for Anglicans, the Abbey is one of the most important places of worship.

Today still in use, it is a property of the royals, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its construction work started in 1045 and “ended” in 1065. In 1245 the Abbey was rebuilt in the Gothic style.

Since 1066, with the crowning of William the Conqueror, it has become the traditional place of all English monarchs’ coronation.

Where is it?

Westminster Abbey is not very far from the famous Big Ben, usually confused to be part of the famous Big Ben, indeed they are 2 different structures!

They are both very close to the River Thames.

westminster abbey

big ben

river T

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The exterior

The main facade of the Abbey presents a lot of decorations, the most evident of which is the big tympanum at the centre, full of very small human figures, for some experts they all are lords who financed the construction of the Abbey. At the sides of the facade there are 2 very big bell towers, which are very famous and important for their occasionals Ringing Concerts*.

*(see next slide)

The ringing concertsThe Abbey bells are rung for the church’s major festivals, saints' days, Royal and Abbey anniversaries, civic events and for special services. It is not an easy task, all of the “ringers” must be well coordinated. ls apart.

The interiorStructurally Westminster Abbey is revolutionary, compared to traditional English Gothic. At that time there was only one nave, but with this church the rule was broken, going for a more French Latin cross based structure with a nave and two side aisles. The extraordinary interior is respectful of the tradition. The height is at about an impressive 34 metres.

What is insideThe Abbey, as we learned, is the personal Abbey of the royal family, in fact since the Middle Ages, aristocrats have been buried inside its chapels, while monks and other people associated with the abbey in the cloisters and other areas.

There are also memorials of all the people who participated in the construction of the church.

Subsequently, it is one of Britain's most significant honour to be buried or commemorated in the Abbey, as it is for many poets and novelists of English literature buried in the Poets’ Corner, situated in the South transept of the Abbey.

*(see next slide)

The Poets’ cornerThe Poets’ Corner is the name given to a section of the Abbey, where some of the most important poets and writers of English literature are buried. The first one to be interred there was Geoffrey Chaucer, the first great medieval poet, who is considered the father of English literature. With the passing of time many others were buried there, like Thomas Hardy (author of “far from the madding crowd”), Samuel Johnson (who wrote, among poems, a very important dictionary) Charles Dickens (who wrote countless classics, such as “Oliver Twist” and “Christmas Carol”) to even a woman, Eva Marie Veigel.

The Abbey is open to visitors from Monday to Saturday, from 9:30 am to 3:30 pm.

The ticket costs about £ 9 for 6-16 year-old children and £ 22 for adults.