Westminster Abbey – British Icon

This image from Wordless Wednesday is of the ceiling of Henry VII’s Lady Chapel located in Westminster Abbey. The abbey was founded in 960. Soak that in for a moment. This building, which still stands in all of its glory and fully functional, is nearly 1000 years old! It really hits home when you visit Westminster Abbey’s website and its header reads “Westminster Abbey: Founded 960.” Now you don’t read that everyday do you?

The abbey was founded in the 960′s and 970′s by King Edgar and Saint Dunstan who installed a community of Benedictine monks there, but a stone abbey was not erected until around 1045.

Since 1066 with William the Conqueror, every coronation of an English or British monarch has taken place in Westminster Abbey. The throne on which the monarch sits during coronation is called the King Edward’s Chair, commissioned by King Edward I and named for Edward the Confessor. Every monarch has used this chair except for Queen Mary I and Queen Mary II who were commissioned special chairs by the Pope. Of course the last monarch to use the chair was Queen Elizabeth II in 1953.

From 1296, the chair contained the Stone of Scone, the coronation stone used by Scottish monarchs which was captured from the Scots at Scone Abbey by Edward I. The stone was installed in King Edward’s coronation chair, no doubt to symbolize England’s domination of Scotland. There it remained until Christmas day in 1950 when a group of Scottish students took the stone and returned it to Scotland. The British government ordered a major search, leaving no stone unturned (ha!), until finally in 1951 when it’s whereabouts were revealed. The new caretakers of the stone had left it on the alter of Arbroath Abbey thinking it would be in safe hands with the Church of Scotland. But it was only a matter of time before London police were notified and the stone was returned to Westminster Abbey. However, in 1996, the British government decided to hand the coronation stone back over to the Scots for safe keeping when not being used for coronations. It now rests comfortably in Edinburgh Castle.

(Personally, I love this story. It’s like something out of Camelot isn’t it?)

King Edward’s Coronation Chair

The Stone of SconeThe Lady Chapel located in Westminster Abbey was built in 1503 by King Henry VII. It has been heralded as one of the last great pieces of medieval architecture and I hasten to agree. It is extraordinarily breathtaking and even the photos I place here do not do it justice. The fan-vaulted roof which is featured in the first photo of this post is a spectacular work of artistry and craftsmanship. It is not fully known who the craftsman were but it is thought it may have been Robert Janyns and William Vertue. Along each wall of the chapel are statues of saints, 95 in all and the tombs of Henry VII and his wife Elizabeth of York are located behind the alter. Also laid to rest in the chapel are Elizabeth I and her half sister Mary I along with Charles II, William III, Mary II, Queen Anne and George II.

The Lady Chapel

 

 

 

The tomb of Elizabeth IWhen I first saw a photo of the ceiling of The Lady Chapel it nearly brought tears to my eyes. I’m thoroughly amazed by the skill and vision it took to produce such an amazing piece of architecture 500 years ago before the age of machinery. A testament to the human spirit. I only wish we knew for sure who was responsible so they can be honored in a fitting way.

Unfortunately video taping and photography are prohibited inside the Abbey, so it’s difficult to give one a true feel of the immense beauty of this building – you just have to be there. But we do have the music. Oh the music! The Choir of Westminster Abbey made up of mostly young boys and a handful of adult singers is world renowned and has released many albums over the years, including some favorite Christmas recordings.

I’ll leave you with the sounds of Westminster Abbey. Enjoy!

Princess Diana’s funeral at Westminster Abbey

One CommentLeave a Comment

1. I don’t know how Mary II got her throne commissioned by the Pope since she was a Protestant! In fact her reign saw the suppression of Catholic rights under the “Glorious Revolution” of 1688 which prevented (and still does) Catholics from being a British monarch.

   Comment by Rebecca — July 5, 2010 @ 9:45 pm

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