Joshua Bennett
Westminster Abbey is an Anglican church in the City of Westminster, London, England. It has been the site of the coronations of 40 English and British monarchs and the burial site for 18 English, Scottish, and British monarchs. The origins of the church are obscure, but an abbey housing Benedictine monks was on the site by the mid-10th century. The church was made a royal peculiar by Elizabeth I, meaning it is a Church of England church accountable directly to the sovereign and not to any archbishop or bishop. Westminster Cathedral, on the other hand, is the largest Roman Catholic church in England and Wales and the seat of the Archbishop of Westminster.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type of church | Anglican church |
| Location | City of Westminster, London, England |
| Functions | Coronation site, burial site, wedding venue |
| History | Benedictine monks were on the site by the mid-10th century; the present church was built in the 13th century |
| Visitors | Approximately 1.75 million visitors per year |
| Status | Designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987 |
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What You'll Learn
Westminster Abbey is an Anglican church
Westminster Abbey, formally titled the Collegiate Church of Saint Peter at Westminster, is an Anglican church in the City of Westminster, London, England. It has been the site of the coronations of 40 English and British monarchs and the burial site for 18 English, Scottish, and British monarchs since 1066. At least 16 royal weddings have been held at the abbey since 1100.
The origins of the church are obscure, but an abbey housing Benedictine monks was on the site by the mid-10th century. The first large-scale building works began in the 1040s, commissioned by King Edward the Confessor, who is buried inside. Construction of the present church began in 1245 under Henry III, who wanted to build a shrine to venerate Edward, matching great French churches such as Reims Cathedral and Sainte-Chapelle.
The Westminster diocese was dissolved in 1550, but the abbey was recognised in 1552 (retroactively to 1550) as the second cathedral of the Diocese of London until 1556. Benedictine monks returned under the Catholic Mary I, but they were ejected once more under Elizabeth I in 1559. In 1560, Elizabeth re-established Westminster as a "royal peculiar" – a church of the Church of England accountable directly to the sovereign – and made it the Collegiate Church of Saint Peter, a non-cathedral church with an attached chapter of canons, headed by a dean.
Westminster Abbey is an architectural masterpiece of the 13th to 16th centuries, presenting a unique pageant of British history. It is a shrine to St Edward the Confessor and houses the tombs of kings and queens, as well as countless memorials to the famous and great. It is a working, inclusive church, offering daily services to all and designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987.
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Benedictine monks returned under Catholic Mary I
Westminster Abbey, formally titled the Collegiate Church of Saint Peter at Westminster, is an Anglican church in the City of Westminster, London, England. The church was first built in the 1040s, commissioned by King Edward the Confessor, who is buried inside. Benedictine monks occupied the site by the mid-10th century. However, the Westminster diocese was dissolved in 1550, and the Benedictine monks were ejected.
Under Catholic Mary I, the Benedictine monks returned to the abbey. This was in 1552, retroactively recognised to 1550. However, their return was short-lived as they were again ejected under Elizabeth I in 1559. Elizabeth re-established Westminster as a "royal peculiar", a church of the Church of England directly accountable to the sovereign rather than a diocesan bishop. The church was made the Collegiate Church of Saint Peter, a non-cathedral church with an attached chapter of canons, led by a dean.
The return of Benedictine monks to Westminster Abbey under Catholic Mary I was part of the religious turmoil in England during the 16th century. The country experienced shifts between Catholicism and Protestantism, with monarchs playing a pivotal role in determining the religious landscape. Mary I, a staunch Catholic, ascended the throne in 1553 and actively promoted Catholic restoration. This included reinstating Benedictine monks in several abbeys, including Westminster.
Mary I's reign was marked by her efforts to restore Catholicism in England. She repealed religious legislation passed during the reign of her father, Henry VIII, and her half-brother, Edward VI, which had established Protestantism as the state religion. Mary I sought to undo the Protestant reforms and return England to the Catholic fold. This included reviving Catholic practices, restoring Catholic monasteries, and persecuting Protestants, earning her the nickname "Bloody Mary" due to the severity of her actions.
The return of Benedictine monks to Westminster Abbey under Mary I was part of her broader agenda to strengthen Catholicism in England. However, her efforts were short-lived, and upon the accession of Elizabeth I, the country shifted back towards Protestantism, and Westminster Abbey was permanently established as a part of the Church of England.
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Elizabeth I ejected monks and made it a Church of England
Westminster Abbey, formally the Collegiate Church of Saint Peter at Westminster, is an Anglican church in London, England. The site has been used for the coronations of English and British monarchs since 1066 and has served as a burial site for royalty since 1100.
The origins of the church are obscure, but an abbey housing Benedictine monks was on the site by the mid-10th century. The first large-scale building works began in the 1040s under King Edward the Confessor, who is buried inside.
The Benedictine monks were ejected from the abbey in 1559 under Elizabeth I, who dissolved the monastery for the final time. Elizabeth I made Westminster Abbey a "royal peculiar", a church of the Church of England directly accountable to the sovereign, rather than a diocesan bishop. The abbey was re-established as the Collegiate Church of Saint Peter, a non-cathedral church headed by a dean. From that date onwards, the building was simply a church, though it retained the name "abbey".
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Westminster Cathedral is the largest Catholic church in England and Wales
Westminster Abbey, formally titled the Collegiate Church of Saint Peter at Westminster, is an Anglican church. It has been the site of the coronations of 40 English and British monarchs and the burial site for 18 monarchs. The origins of the church are obscure, but an abbey housing Benedictine monks was on the site by the mid-10th century. The building was commissioned by King Edward the Confessor in the 1040s, and he is buried inside. Construction of the present church began in 1245 under Henry III, who wanted it to be a shrine to Edward, matching other great European churches. The abbey was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987.
Westminster Cathedral, on the other hand, is the largest Roman Catholic church in England and Wales. It is officially the Metropolitan Cathedral of the Most Precious Blood and is the seat of the Archbishop of Westminster. The cathedral was designed by John Francis Bentley in a 9th-century Christian neo-Byzantine style and completed in 1903. It covers a floor area of about 5,017 square meters (54,000 square feet), with a spacious and uninterrupted nave. As in many Catholic churches, there are Stations of the Cross along the outer aisles, and Westminster Cathedral boasts hundreds of beautiful mosaics. The shrine is dedicated to the Blood of Jesus Christ.
The Roman Catholic Westminster Cathedral is at the heart of Catholic faith in London. Holy Mass is celebrated throughout the day, seven days a week, and the Sacrament of Reconciliation is available daily. The cathedral has one of the world's greatest choirs, renowned for polyphony and plainchant. It is also home to distinguished artistic works, including sculptures by Eric Gill.
Westminster Cathedral receives no funding from the Vatican and relies entirely on the generosity of supporters to maintain the building and its choir and cover running costs. The cathedral has hosted notable visitors, including Queen Elizabeth, who attended Choral Vespers, and Pope Benedict XVI, who celebrated Mass in 2010.
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The Diocese of Westminster was purchased in 1885
Westminster Abbey, formally titled the Collegiate Church of Saint Peter at Westminster, is an Anglican church in the City of Westminster, London, England. It has been the site of the coronations of 40 English and British monarchs and the burial site for 18 English, Scottish, and British monarchs. The church was made a "royal peculiar" by Elizabeth I, meaning it is a Church of England church accountable directly to the sovereign.
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Westminster, on the other hand, is a Latin archdiocese of the Catholic Church in England. The diocese consists of most of London north of the River Thames and west of the River Lea, the borough of Spelthorne in Surrey, and the county of Hertfordshire. The diocese is led by the Archbishop of Westminster, who serves as the pastor of the mother church, Westminster Cathedral, and the metropolitan bishop of the ecclesiastical Province of Westminster.
The original site on which Westminster Cathedral stands today in the City of Westminster was purchased by the Diocese of Westminster in 1885, and construction was completed in 1903. Designed by John Francis Bentley in a 9th-century Christian neo-Byzantine style, the cathedral is made almost entirely of brick, without steel reinforcements.
Westminster Cathedral is the largest Roman Catholic church in England and Wales. It is the seat of the Archbishop of Westminster, and the shrine is dedicated to the Blood of Jesus Christ. The cathedral is also home to one of the world's greatest choirs, internationally renowned for its polyphony and plainchant.
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Frequently asked questions
No, Westminster Abbey is an Anglican church. It is a "royal peculiar", meaning it is a Church of England church accountable directly to the sovereign and not to any archbishop or bishop.
Westminster Cathedral is the largest Roman Catholic church in England and Wales. It is the seat of the Archbishop of Westminster and was constructed between 1885 and 1903.
Yes, Westminster Abbey is open to the public and offers daily services for all. It has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
