Westminster Abbey

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St Peter, Westminster, best known as Westminster Abbey, occupies a unique place in British history. All British sovereigns since William the Conqueror, (except Edward V and Edward VIII) were ordained here. Westminster Abbey is also the resting place of monarchs in the second half of XIII century to the middle of the eighteenth century.

Westminster Abbey was built by command of King Edward the Confessor in the eleventh century, in the XIII century Henry III started the reconstruction of French Gothic, in honor of Edward. For centuries, were made all sorts of modifications and additions to the church building. One of the most important was the Lady Chapel built by Henry VII, which now bears his name. In the first part of the eighteenth century, Nicholas Hawksmoor designed the Gothic towers of the west. Above the door of the west were added statues are martyrs of the twentieth century. Abound in Westminster Abbey memorial plates vade, statues and other items meant to commemorate famous people and respected, although not all are buried here.

The nave has some massive buttresses XIV century represented a new technology and raising the roof allowed the stone to over 30 meters tall, the tallest nave in England. Area is flooded by light because the glass window in the west of the church. It was designed by James Thornhill and built in 1735. Under the window there is the grave of the Unknown Soldier, which commemorates the thousands of soldiers killed in World War I and could not be ingrapati. Nearby, on the floor there is a commemorative plaque dedicated to Sir Winston Churchill is buried at Bladon near Blenheim Palace.

Choir is a place where 22 boys and 12 bishops played during the daily job. Anthem? Zadok the Priest was written by Handel for the coronation of George II and still is today included in coronation ceremonies. Shrine is coronation in which they occur. Behind the high altar there is a mosaic that depicts the Last Supper and dates from 1867. On the altar there is a pair of candles purchased with money by Sarah Hughes left the church, a woman's job seventeenth century.

Edward the Confessor's shrine is situated in the eastern chapel of the sanctuary, the most revered part of the church. On the sofa stone dating from the fifteenth century are carved scenes from the life that saint was canonized in Secula XII.

Coronation throne of Edward I, dating from around 1300 can be admired in this part of Westminster Abbey. Used to absolutely all the coronation ceremonies held here in 1308, the throne was made to incorporate the Scottish coronation stone which Edward had brought her to England in 1296. It remained in Westminster Abbey stone for seven hundred years until it was brought back to Edinburgh Castle in 1996.

Chapel of Henry VII was completed in 1519. Chapel entrance is through two doors of bronze. The main nave is a remarkable piece of architecture. Ceiling very busy and tired of the saints that are placed above the balcony where the choir stands complete the atmosphere full of history. The chapel is decorated with images of the Knights of Bath, who is dedicated chapel. Also added to Westmister Abbey and the tomb of Queen Elizabeth I. The Catholic half-sister, Queen Mary, and she is ingroapta here.

Another important place in Westminster Abbey is the corner poets. The first person buried here was Geoffrey Chaucer in 1400. There are memorials dedicated to John Dryden, Edmund Spencer, Dr. Samuel Johnson, Robert Browning and Charles Dickens, to name just a few. Many illustrious men are commemorated here although they are buried elsewhere. These include: William Shakespeare, John Milton, Wordsworth, Keats and Shelly, Jane Austen and the Bronte sisters. Not all those commemorated here are poets and writers. There are several other priests or deacons of the church, the composer Handel and actor David Garrick. The last of those buried here is Sir Laurence Olivier.

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