Westminster Abbey, an Anglican church in the City of Westminster, London, is a World Heritage Site containing over 1,000 years of history and attracting over one million visitors each year.
Here are 12 fascinating facts about this historic residence…
Westminster Abbey was originally on an island
Founded by monks in 960 AD, Westminster Abbey was situated on Thorney Island, which was a small island on the River Thames. Thorney Island was the perfect location for the abbey and the Palace of Westminster to be built. However, it no longer exists. Instead, it provided the name for Thorney Street in Westminster, which is now home to MI5.
It was rebuilt by Edward the Confessor
Anglo-Saxon King Edward the Confessor rebuilt the church as a royal burial church at around 1042. Remarkably, the church was completed in 1060, a week before the king died, and he was buried there. His wife joined him nine years later. Edward was made a saint in the Catholic Church. However, his shrine is actually situated in Westminster Abbey. It is said that Edward left the regalia used for his coronation in the abbey for future monarchs, but these were destroyed by Oliver Cromwell. In 1661, Charles II created replicas, including the St Edward’s Crown, which is now used for coronations.
Westminster Abbey isn’t actually an abbey
Despite its name, Westminster Abbey hasn’t been an abbey for over 450 years. During the Reformation of the English church in 1559, the abbey stopped serving as a monastery and from the establishment of the Church of England, Westminster Abbey was reclassed as ‘Royal Peculiarity’ in 1560. This essentially means that the abbey is no longer governed by the church and instead belongs to the ruling monarch.
A fisherman is responsible for its real name
The official name for Westminster Abbey is the Collegiate Church of St Peter, Westminster. What this means is that it is under the supervision of a dean and has a chapter of canon attached to it, although it is not a cathedral. Legend has it that it was named St Peter after a fisherman named Aldrich was on the River Thames when he had a vision of St Peter as another fisherman.
It is the location of every coronation for nearly 1,000 years
Westminster Abbey has held the coronation of every English monarch since at least 1066, when William the Conqueror was crowned on Christmas Day. However, it is believed that the abbey has been used for coronations for much longer than that. In May of this year, King Charles III was the 40th monarch to be crowned at Westminster Abbey.
The abbey contains Britain’s oldest door
The only surviving Anglo-Saxon door in Britain is situated in Westminster Abbey, which dates from around 1050. A tree-ring dating (dendrochronology) analysis was conducted which revealed that the wood from the door was cut from a single tree from Hainault, which was planted as early as 924 AD.
Westminster Abbey’s floor predicts the future
A ‘Cosmati’ pavement is the flooring of the sanctuary, and is made using thousands of cut pieces of mosaic and porphyry. It also contains brass lettering which shows 1268; the date it was created, that the king who ruled was Henry III, that it came from Rome, and also that the world will end in 19,683 years.
Students were responsible for stealing the Stone of Scone
In 1296, Edward I took the Stone of Scone from Scotland and it was placed for centuries after under the St Edward’s Chair, also known as the Coronation Chair. In 1950, four students from Glasgow stole the stone, leading to the closing of the Scottish-English border for the first time in centuries. The stone was located and returned to the abbey, however, by 1996 it was returned to Scotland. There is an agreement whereby any time there is a coronation, the stone will return temporarily to the abbey.
Westminster Abbey houses many tombs and memorials.
The abbey’s purpose was originally to serve as a burial site for England’s monarchs as well as important political figures, and key influential men and women. As such, there are over 3,500 people buried or commemorated at Westminster Abbey, with over 450 tombs and monuments. Poets Corner holds over 100 memorials for important figures such as Charles Dickens, William Shakespeare, Jane Austen and the Bronte sisters. There are also several scientists burried in the tombs, such as Sir Isaac Newton, Charles Darwin and Stephen Hawking.
The chapel contains a statue of a bearded lady
Built by Henry VII between 1503 and 1519 is the Lady Chapel, which houses a statue of Saint Wilgefortis, a female saint with a beard. It is believed that she prayed to God to grow a beard so that her would-be pagan husband would be put off by her. Many women who had abusive husbands, or were against domestic violence, looked up to her.
Great measures were taken to protect the abbey’s treasures
During the Second World War, Westminster Abbey was used as a base for fire watches, a dispensary, a dressing station, and Air Raid Precaution headquarters. As such, measures were taken to protect the treasures within the abbey. The Coronation Stone was buried secretly in the abbey, the Coronation Chair was sent to Gloucester Cathedral, and the collection of funeral effigies were sent to Piccadilly tube station.
Westminster Abbey is also responsible for hosting royal weddings
Westminster Abbey has been the venue for over 17 royal weddings. However, strict rules are in place concerning who can tie the knot in the abbey. These rules are that you can only get married their if you’re a member of the Royal Family, a member of the Order of Bath, or one of the residents living within its confines. The most recent royal wedding to be held at Westminster Abbey was in 2011 for Prince William and Kate Middleton.