Westminster Abbey is steeped in more than a thousand years of history. Benedictine monks first came to this site in the middle of the tenth century, establishing a tradition of daily worship which continues to this day.
The Abbey has been the coronation church since 1066 and is the final resting place of seventeen monarchs.
The present church, begun by Henry III in 1245, is one of the most important Gothic buildings in the country, with the medieval shrine of an Anglo-Saxon saint still at its heart.
A treasure house of paintings, stained glass, pavements, textiles and other artefacts, Westminster Abbey is also the place where some of the most significant people in the nation's history are buried or commemorated. Taken as a whole the tombs and memorials comprise the most significant single collection of monumental sculpture anywhere in the United Kingdom.
The Library and Muniment Room houses the important (and growing) collections of archives, printed books and manuscripts belonging to the Dean and Chapter of Westminster, providing a centre for their study and for research into all aspects of the Abbey's long and varied history.
(the above information provided by the official Westminster Abbey website: http://www.westminster-abbey.org)
Thank you for posting these images, I remember them well. Memories is a big part of our lives, no?
ReplyDeleteWow, how beautiful! It is great that you were able to attend a service there.
ReplyDeletedo you know that THAT is my favourite hymn. *quietly singing in my office*
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One of my favourite places on earth.
ReplyDeletehow totally awesome! I was in England 2 years ago this week...it was very pleasant/even flowers on the trees! jet Stream...
ReplyDeleteWe spent most of our time in Cambridge/stayed at Claire Hall...our friend went to school there and we had a whirlwind trip to London. I need more time there. Westminster Abbey was a highlight of the day & a cool play & dinner in a neat moroccan rest in theater rest.
My friend, Seb, is a piano tuner (among many things)as well as his Dad, who has tuned piano for Paul McC, Madonna, Elton! I know!...CRAZY cool! I loved the pubs with the college kids...Pimms & Sunday Roast & bringing your dog to sleep on the pub floor!
Well I could go on... Our friends, Peter & Meg, are there on Sabbatical and want us to come, staying on a farm os of Cambridge...Economy/grandbabies/life/make it not doable right now...ps. I am related to David Livingstone, the missionary/explorer who is buried at West Minster Abbey...it was incredible to see where he is buried...such a cloud of witnesses! Charles Dickens is buried there too! We also went to Windsor Castle, where King Henry is buried!! & one of his wives?...
Oh I must go back! If I ever had another child I wanted to name her "Windsor"...I also am such a big fan of Priness Di...and did you know that in Windsor Castle there is not 1 pic of her in Queen Eliz. apt that is open for tour...tons of photos..and no pics of Di in the 3 gift shops...that is just wrong!! Well thanks for the chance to reminisce.
Jennifer aka Gigi
OH wow Miss GSG. How wonderful! xoxo
ReplyDeleteI have wonderful memories of living in London briefly many years back! Visiting Westminster Abbey with my family was wonderful. After they left, I would often go back myself. Such a beautiful wonder and so peaceful. I hope to go back someday soon and revisit my old haunts about London. I miss traveling so much!
ReplyDeleteLucky girl. I have goosebumps just thinking about it. It must have been so amazing to be a part of a service there. I've heard their children's choir brings tears to your eyes. So happy you were able to go.
ReplyDeleteIf you have a moment I'm having a giveaway and would love for you to enter :)
I have so many memories of Westminster Abbey. My mother was British, so we would go to London every other year. I remember always wanting to go to Westminster Abbey, because even as a child I enjoyed awe inspiring architecture; I also loved the activity where you could do a 'rubbing' by placing a piece of paper over one of the brass tomb plates and rubbing a crayon over it to make an impression.
ReplyDeleteDid you know that the melody to "I Vow to Thee My Country" - Jerusalem - is also a hymn in the Methodist Hymnbook, and was used for a Billy Joel ballad?
You brought back memories of sitting at it's steps. My eldest children gave me books on Lady Diana for Christmas. I adore her to see the video it's hard not to tear up. 'I Vow Thee to My Country' is a gorgeous song. I loved it when my mother in law and father in law would sing it. Such honor & pride. I really enjoyed this post X
ReplyDeletep.s.- thank you for your touching comment left on my blog. Very, very appreciated.
you had to be 'freaked out' excited!!!
ReplyDeletei would have been.
what a wonderful
(and possibly a once in a lifetime)
experience.
i am happy for you.
xxx
wow- what a fabulous trip. Look forward to hearing more about it! Worshiping there must have been amazing.
ReplyDeleteVery nice!!! sure it was a nice trip... happy 2010!!! :)
ReplyDeleteWow! I bet it was an amazing experience.
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year to you GSG!!
joan
SO jealous
ReplyDeletewow, you get to go to ALL the cool places! i linked up to your blog on my post today, thanks!
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