Description of Westminster Abbey in English. Westminster Abbey. Westminster Abbey. Poets' Corner in Westminster Abbey

Westminster Abbey is an exciting place to visit for anyone interested in British History. Almost all Britain's kings and queens since William the Conqueror have been crowned here, and many are buried at the Abbey too.

Officially known as the Collegiate Church of St. Peter in Westminster, Edward the Confessor had the abbey built in the 11th century . By the mid 13th century Henry III began re building it in the French Gothic style, in honor of Edward.

Additions were made over the centuries; one of the most important was the Lady Chapel built by Henry VII, now named after him. During the early part of the 18th century, Nicholas Hawksmoor designed the Gothic style towers for the west front.

Above the west door, statues have been added to the niches representing twentieth century martyrs. Westminster Abbey is full of memorials, plaques, reliefs and statuary all commemorating famous and honored citizens, although not all are buried here.

The Nave has massive flying buttresses which were new technology in the fourteenth century, allowing its magnificent stone vaulted roof and gilded bosses to soar to one hundred and one feet, the highest nave in England.

The area is flooded with light from the stained glass west window, designed by James Thornhill, constructed in 1735.

Below this window, surrounded by red poppies is the grave of the Unknown Warrior, commemorating thousands killed in the 1914-18 War, who have no grave.

Nearby is the floor plaque dedicated to Sir , buried in his family plot at Bladon, near Blenheim Palace.

The Choir is where twenty-two boys and twelve lay vicars (as the men of the choir are known) sing daily services. Orlando Gibbons and Henry Purcell were organists at the abbey.

The anthem "Zadok the Priest" was written by Handel for the coronation of George II and is still included in the coronation ceremony.

The Sanctuary is where coronations take place. Behind the High Altar is the reredos, with a mosaic portraying the Last Supper - both date from 1867 and were designed by Sir Gilbert Scott.

On the altar are a pair of candlesticks bought with money left to the abbey by Sarah Hughes, a serving maid in the 17th century.

The Cosmati floor mosaic, constructed in the thirteenth century by Italian craftsmen, portraying the universe, is made up of Purbeck marble, green and red porphyry and glass, and is considered a precious work of art, one of the abbey's great treasures.

The shrine of Edward the Confessor, lies in the chapel east of the sanctuary, the most venerated part of the abbey. The stone screen, circa 15th century on the west side, is carved with scenes from the life of the saint, who was canonised in the 12th century.

The abbey has seen the coronation of every British monarch since the 13th Century, except Edward V and Edward VIII.

The Coronation Chair of Edward I circa 1300 can be seen in this part of the abbey.

Used at every coronation since 1308, the throne was made to incorporate the Scottish coronation stone, known as the Stone of Scone, which Edward removed to England in 1296.

It remained in Westminster Abbey for the next seven hundred years, until its return to Edinburgh Castle in 1996.

Henry VII's Chapel or the Lady Chapel was completed in 1519. A pair of fine bronze gates displaying Tudor badges stand at the entrance.

The main nave is a remarkable piece of architecture in the English Perpendicular style.

The carved vaulting, gilded pendants and statues of saints are set high above the choir stalls, beneath the seats of the stalls are beautifully carved misericords.

The chapel is decorated with the banners of the Knights of the order of the Bath, to whom the chapel was dedicated.

In the north aisle, is the tomb of ; it is interesting to note that her Catholic half sister Queen Mary is also buried here.

Innocents "Corner is the resting-place of James I"s infant daughters, Princess Sophia and her elder sister Princess Mary.

Some people believe that an urn designed by Sir Christopher Wren and set into the wall, contains the bones of the Princes murdered in the tower of London, Edward V and his younger brother Richard, although this has never been proven.

Behind the altar is the black marble sarcophagus of Henry VII and his wife, Elizabeth of York, their gilded effigies modelled from their death masks.

In this chapel is the red robed effigy of James I's grandmother and the elaborate tomb of his mother. James himself is buried beside Henry VII.

Below the altar, commemorated by simple plaques lie William and Mary, Queen Anne and Charles II.

At the east end of the chapel, is the colorful memorial window showing the crests of the 68 Fighter Squadrons, which took part in the Battle of Britain.

The South Transept and Poets Corner is dominated by the magnificent rose window.

Below it are two censing angels, the finest carvings in the abbey dating from the 13th century.

From the same period are two wall paintings, depicting Christ showing his wounds to Doubting Thomas and St. Christopher.

The first person to be buried in Poet's Corner was Geoffrey Chaucer in 1400, who was clerk of works to the Palace of Westminster.

There are memorials to John Dryden, Edmund Spencer, Dr. Samuel Johnson, Robert Browning and Charles Dickens to name but a few.

Not all who rest here are poets and authors, there are several of the abbey's former Deans and Canons, the musician Handel, the actor David Garrick, the last to be buried here was Sir Laurence Olivier.

The cloisters date from the 13th-15th centuries. Originally they would have been glazed and heated by braziers.

They would have been used by the monks of the original church for meditation, places of study and for taking exercise, also for access to the refectory and the Chapter House.

East of the cloisters is the Pyx Chamber, the Sacristy of Edward the Confessor's church, later used as the royal treasury. Today the chamber is used to show the abbey's plate.

The Undercroft is now a museum, containing many interesting artefacts from the abbey's history.

London is a place where many historic buildings and tourist attractions are situated. Westminster is considered to be a political center of the city where many offices are placed. However, the main part of Westminster is obviously the Abbey. It is located near the Houses of Parliament.

According to the ancient tradition, the church was founded by St. Peter 900 years ago. Later it was rebuilt during the reign of Henry III. The original Westminster Abbey was built in the Romanesque style and then it was reconstructed in the Gothic style. The church is very high and has a magnificent exterior.

Translation:

London is the place where many historical buildings and sights are located. Westminster is considered the political center of the city, where many offices are located. However, the main part of Westminster is the abbey. It is located near the Palace of Westminster.

Westminster Abbey is the place where all the English kings and queens were crowned, as well as the royal wedding ceremonies. Moreover, there are burial places of many royal persons and great people: Queen Elizabeth I, William Shakespeare, Charles Darwin, Isaac Newton, Bernard Shaw, Lord Byron, Walter Scott and many others.

According to ancient tradition, the founder of the church is St. Paul, who created it 900 years ago. It was later rebuilt during the reign of Henry III. Initially, the church was built in the Romanesque style, and then it was remade in the Gothic style. The church is very tall and has a great view.

Every year the church attracts millions of people who come to see the abbey and visit the famous Poets' Corner. There is also a statue of Shakespeare, which appeared in 1741. Thus, Westminster Abbey is an interesting place to visit. There you can admire the beauty of the church itself and see the graves of prominent people.

Expressions

Abbey - abbey

Royalty - royalty

To crown - to crown

To burry - to bury

To found smth - found something

Exterior - appearance

The great glory of Westminster is, of course, the Abbey. Ancient tradition claims that St. Peter founded the first church here but the Abbey's 900 years of existence since its dedication go back to Edward the Confessor. Henry III rebuilt the earlier church and the present building dates from his reign. If you have never visited the Abbey before, try to go in slowly and look about carefully. For the immediate effect, as you follow the wonderfully vaulted roof along the length of the nave, is a startling and breathtaking beauty. height.

Nearly all English kings and queens have been crowned in Westminster Abbey. Since the far-off time of William the Conqueror Westminster Abbey has been the crowning and wedding place of the kings and queens of England.

Westminster Abbey. Poets' corner

The great glory of Westminster is, of course, the monastery. Ancient tradition claims that St. Peter founded the first church here, but 900 years of existence since the founding of Abby takes it back to the time of Edward the Confessor. Henry III restored the early church and the present building was built during his reign. If you have never visited the abbey before, try to walk slowly and look around carefully. For immediate effect, follow the amazing roof vaults along the nave, which are a striking and breathtaking beauty. There is an element of grandeur here that goes beyond size and height.

Many visitors to the monastery are attracted by the "Poets' Corner", with monuments to great people of literature. Many prominent statesmen, artists, writers and poets are buried there. Among them are Charles Dickens, Thomas Hardy, Rudyard Kipling and others. Chaucer, who is buried in the abbey, is also remembered here. So are Spencer, Dryden, Ben Jonson, and Milton. There are also monuments to Shakespeare, Burns, Byron, Walter Scott, Thackeray and the American poet Longfellow. A full-length statue of Shakespeare, the work of Sheemakers, was erected in 1741, just opposite the monument to the actor David Garrick.

Almost all English kings and queens have been crowned in Westminster Abbey. Since the distant times of William the Conqueror, Westminster Abbey has been the site of the coronation and wedding of the kings and queens of England.

Westminster Abbey (Eng. Westminster Abbey) is the modern unofficial name of the Collegiate Church of St. Peter in Westminster, one of the most important religious buildings in Great Britain, which has become the traditional place for the coronation and burial of English, and later British monarchs since the 11th century.
Official site:http://www.westminster-abbey.org

For many centuries, the monastery complex was the third most important center of learning and education in the country (after Cambridge and Oxford). It was within the walls of the abbey that the main part of the work of translating the Bible into English was carried out. Also, 16 royal weddings were held here, the last of which was the wedding ceremony of Prince William and Kate Middleton.

Initially, the name "Westminster Abbey" was used to refer to a Catholic monastery, which included a complex of buildings and buildings, of which only the main attraction, the Collegiate Church of St. Peter, has survived to this day. Thus, today Westminster Abbey is a church and not an abbey in the traditional sense of the term.

According to a well-known legend, at the beginning of the 7th century, near the ford across the Thames to the west of London, a local fisherman named Aldrich saw the image of St. Peter, the patron saint of fishermen, above the river. On the site of the appearance of the image, a church was founded, which received the name West Minster (from the English west - west and minster - monastery church). An interesting fact is that in the Middle Ages, fishermen from nearby villages paid a salmon tax to the abbey, and it is quite possible that the legend was invented just to justify the exactions.

It is generally accepted that the founders of the West Minster Church were Bishop Mellith of London (died 626) and the first Christian king of Essex, Sabert (died 616; his grave can be seen within the walls of the abbey). However, the first truly historically reliable evidence dates back to the 960s, when St. Dunstan, supported by King Edgar, founded a community of monks of the Order of St. Benedict at the church of West Minster.

Edward the Confessor, founder of Westminster Abbey.

The most important role in the history of the abbey was played by King Edward the Confessor, known for his piety (reigned from 1042 to 1065). He began a massive refurbishment of the old West Minster church into a grandiose architectural structure for use as a royal tomb. By order of the king, the Benedictine community received the status of an abbey (Catholic monastery) and good land plots. The new church, built in honor of St. Peter, was completed in 1090, but consecrated much earlier - at the end of 1065 (just a week before the death of Edward the Confessor). The burial of the king, and nine years later his wife, became the first burials of royal persons in the newly formed Westminster Abbey.

Edward the Confessor built next to the abbey and the royal palace, which until 1512 served as the residence of the English kings, and then - the seat of Parliament. It is believed, though not documented, that his successor Harold II (the last Anglo-Saxon king) was crowned in the abbey in 1066. The first documented ceremony was the coronation of William the Conqueror (the organizer and leader of the Norman conquest of England) in the same year 1066.

The church, built by Edward the Confessor, was not inferior in size to the one that exists today, but, unfortunately, almost nothing has survived from it, like from other buildings of the abbey of the 11th century. What the building looked like in the time of Edward the Confessor can only be judged by the only surviving image on the famous Bayeux tapestry. Only minor fragments of buildings from the 11th century have survived to this day: Chamber Peaks, the lower floor of the monastic cells and Norman Undercroft (a large crypt-tomb).

Rebuilding the abbey in the XIII-XVI centuries

Construction of the present abbey church (i.e., "St. Peter's Collegiate Church at Westminster") began in 1245 under Henry III, who personally chose Westminster Abbey as his tomb. According to the king's plan, the temple was to become a place for the solemn ceremony of the coronation and burial of the English kings - the sacred center of royal power, like the Reims Cathedral in France.

The reconstruction of the abbey continued intermittently for more than 250 years (from 1245 to 1517). At the first stage, the architects were the English masters Henry of Essex (known in the chronicles as "Henry of the Rhine, the king's stonemason") and John of Gloucester. The fact that in its architecture Westminster Abbey is much closer to French cathedrals than to English Gothic is probably due to the fact that the creators drew inspiration from the flourishing Gothic art of northern France in general and from the magnificent cathedrals of Amiens, Reims and Paris (Notre Dame de Paris) in particular.

The abbey was completed by the architects Robert Beverley and Henry Yevel during the reign of King Richard II (1377-1399), but minor refurbishment continued thereafter. In 1503, Henry VII added to the abbey church a chapel dedicated to the Virgin Mary, known today as the Henry VII Chapel.

By the beginning of the 16th century, due to its proximity to the monarchs, Westminster Abbey became one of the richest cloisters of that time. For example, in 1535 he had an annual income of £2,800, which is equivalent to £1.5 million today. Only the abbey at Glastonbury was richer.

Westminster Abbey during the Reformation

During the Reformation (second quarter of the 16th century), the abbey, which was a Catholic monastery, was abolished, the monks were expelled, and the church itself fell into decay. Many artistic values ​​were destroyed or plundered, magnificent colored stained-glass windows, an invariable decoration of medieval Gothic temples, were broken.

In 1540, King Henry VIII, who became the head of the Anglican Church as a result of the Reformation, issued a special charter, which granted Westminster Abbey the status of a cathedral. This was done to protect the historical landmark from the final looting and destruction. However, in this status the abbey lasted only 10 years.

The Benedictine monks again briefly took possession of the abbey during the reign of Queen Mary I the Catholic, but were expelled, this time permanently, in 1559, when Elizabeth I ascended the throne. In 1579 she proclaimed Westminster Abbey "royal property", then is, directly controlled by the monarch.

17th century

During the English Civil War (1640s), the abbey suffered from attacks by iconoclast Puritans. In 1658, the church hosted a lavish funeral for Lord Protector Oliver Cromwell, but after the restoration of the monarchy, his remains were dug up and hanged posthumously for treason.

XVIII-XIX century

From the point of view of most modern historians, architects and art historians, the restructuring and restoration of the 18th and 19th centuries spoiled rather than improved the appearance of Westminster Abbey. So, at the beginning of the 18th century, the western facade, created in the 15th century, was rebuilt. Then the unsuccessful western towers in the style of the Gothic Revival were added, and in the 19th century, in the era of the "restoration" enthusiasm, the northern portal was also rebuilt. These changes were already recognized by contemporaries as "barbaric".

XX-XXI century

• in 1908, a museum was opened in part of the premises of the abbey;
• since the 1990s, the church has been decorated with two icons by the Russian icon painter Sergei Fedorov;
• On September 6, 1997, the funeral ceremony for Princess Diana was held at the abbey;
• On April 29, 2011, the wedding ceremony of Prince William and Kate Middleton was held at the abbey.

Poets' Corner in Westminster Abbey

Poets' Corner is part of the south transept of Westminster Abbey, where prominent poets, playwrights and writers are buried. The first burial was Geoffrey Chaucer in 1556. Over time, it became a tradition in Poets' Corner to bury or put memorial plaques to individuals who have made a significant contribution to development of British literature.

Interestingly, the medieval poet Geoffrey Chaucer, who died in 1400 and was buried in the abbey, deserved such high honor not for his works, but because of his position as clerk of royal works at the Palace of Westminster. Recognition of his poetic talent came much later. Chaucer was the first to write compositions not in Latin, but in his native language.In 1556, Nicholas Bryham erected a magnificent sarcophagus in the south transept, where Chaucer's remains were transferred.

After the famous Elizabethan poet Edmund Spenser was buried next to Chaucer in 1599, a tradition arose to bury poets and writers in this part of the abbey. As an exception, several canons and deacons are buried here, as well as Thomas Parr, who, according to legend, died at the age of 152, outliving 10 English rulers.

The burial or erection of a memorial plaque in honor of someone does not always take place immediately after death. For example, Lord Byron, whose poetry was admired as much as his scandalous lifestyle was condemned, died in 1824, but it was not until 1969 that he was honored with a monument in Poets' Corner.

Even William Shakespeare, buried at Stratford-upon-Avon in 1616, was not so honored until 1740.

Monuments have been erected to some individuals buried in the Corner here or in other parts of the abbey. Sometimes a person was buried in other places in the abbey, but a monument was erected in Poets' Corner. There were also cases when the public asked to bury the writer in the Corner, but despite this, the burial took place in other parts of the abbey. In addition, two monuments were moved from the Corner to other places on the abbey grounds due to the discovery of ancient wall paintings behind them.

The monuments located in the Poets' Corner are of different types. Sometimes they are simple plaques, sometimes more elaborate stone statues.

There are also several group sculptures: a common monument to the Bronte sisters (1947), a stone slab with the names of 16 poets of the First World War (1985) and a monument to the four founders of the Royal Ballet (2009).

Since there was practically no space for new burials and monuments in Ugol, in 1994 it was decided to place a tempered glass board, on which names would be applied as needed. There is enough space on the board for 20 names. The seventh name in 2010 was Elizabeth Gaskell. In addition to all the above-mentioned writers, such famous personalities as Charles Dickens, Rudyard Kipling, Laurence Olivier, John Keats, Walter Scott, Oscar Wilde and many others found their last refuge in Poets' Corner.

Chapel of Edward the Confessor

The first chapel dedicated to King Edward the Confessor, during whose lifetime most of Westminster Abbey was erected, appeared as early as 1163, immediately after his canonization. A century later (in 1269), during the massive rebuilding of Henry III, the chapel was rebuilt, and the body of the holy king was reburied with great honors.

The central element of the chapel is the famous sarcophagus with the relics of Edward, created in the Romanesque style by Italian craftsmen under the guidance of Peter the Roman. Initially, it consisted of three parts - a stone base, a golden shrine with the king's body, and a wooden canopy. The sarcophagus was decorated with golden images of knights and saints. During the years of the Reformation, it was dismantled and hidden by the monks, but the golden shrine was stolen. Under Queen Mary I the Bloody, when Catholicism again briefly became the state religion, the sarcophagus was rebuilt, but the marble base was assembled carelessly. In the absence of a reliquary, the coffin was placed on a stone base - in this position it is still placed today. The wooden canopy was restored and repainted.

The chapel also houses the graves of Kings Henry III, Richard II, Edward I, Edward III and their spouses.

Important historical landmarks of the chapel are the 13th-century Cosmatesco-style floor mosaics and the stone gates, presumably of the 15th century (separating the chapel from the altar), which are decorated with carvings with scenes from the life of King Edward the Confessor.

Chapel of Henry VII

Since the 13th century, the cult of worship of the Virgin Mary has been spreading in Europe. England was no exception - Henry III built a chapel dedicated to Our Lady. At the beginning of the 16th century, Henry VII rebuilt it, making it his tomb. Even during the life of Henry VII, a huge sum of 14,000 pounds was spent on the Chapel, but according to the will of the monarch, if necessary, expenses could be increased. As a result, they reached 20,000, which in today's money is about 11-12 million pounds.

The main attraction of the chapel is its famous fan ceiling with suspensions. At the same time, hanging suspensions are not only a decorative element, but also help to create the necessary compression to maintain the cone-shaped niches of the vault. Thanks to the use of such a complex structure for its time, the architects managed to achieve an extraordinary visual lightness of the building - it seems that the openwork vaults, supported by narrow arches, are floating in the air.

Other decorative details of the chapel are also exceptionally refined and beautiful. The triforium is decorated with numerous statues of saints and apostles. On the tomb of Henry VII and his wife Elizabeth of York there are sculptures of the royal couple, made by the Italian sculptor Pietro Torrigiano in 1518. The chapel's altar of terracotta, white marble and gilded bronze was a true masterpiece, but was destroyed during the Stuart Restoration. Today the altar has been restored and is an exact copy.

In addition to the tomb of Henry VII and his wife, the chapel contains the burial places of Edward VI, James I, Mary I, Charles VII, as well as rival queens Elizabeth Tudor and Mary Stuart the Bloody. Ironically, being irreconcilable enemies during their lifetime, Elizabeth and Mary were buried in the same grave. Also here, Lord Protector of England Oliver Cromwell was buried for a short period of time; then his body was removed, hung and quartered.

In 1725, by royal decree, the chapel was placed at the disposal of the Most Venerable Order of the Bath, a knightly order founded by King George I. Its name comes from an ancient rite when applicants were subjected to a nightly wakefulness with fasting, prayer and bathing on the eve of receiving a knighthood. Benches for the knights of the order were installed in the chapel, but already in the 19th century there were too many initiates, and today only the most respected of them are awarded personal seats. A banner of a knight is hung over each personal place along with the family coat of arms. By tradition, the banner remains in the chapel even after the death of the knight. The banners of the chapter of the order are also kept here.

Chapter House, or Chapter House, was built simultaneously with the eastern part of the abbey in the middle of the 13th century during the reign of Henry III and rebuilt in 1872 by Sir George Gilbert Scott. The Chapter House is an octagonal Geometric Gothic building of exceptional architectural integrity. Six huge windows were once decorated with beautiful stained-glass windows. Unfortunately, all of them were destroyed during the Reformation (Tuesday-Thursday of the 16th century), but the paved floor of the middle of the 13th century is still preserved.

In the 13th century, Chapter House was the site of the daily meetings of the Benedictine monks, and later the Great Council of the King and the House of Commons (the predecessor of the English parliament) met in it. From 1547 to 1865, the state archive was located here. Under Chapter House is an octagonal crypt.

The vestibule door dates from the middle of the 11th century and is believed to be the oldest in England.By determining the age of wood by annual rings, scientists have established that the trees from which the door was made were cut down between 1032 and 1064. Thus, the door dates back to the Anglo-Saxon period of British history.

The item measuring 2 by 1.2 meters has hung in its permanent place in the corridor leading from the octagonal chapel to the galleries since the 1250s, scientists believe. Apparently, the door was left from the old building of the abbey, where it occupied a more honorable place.

According to experts, the original door measured 2.74 by 1.4 meters and led to the chapel of Edward the Confessor. Henry III, who carried out the rebuilding of the abbey in the 13th century, did not need funds, and the reuse of the door had a symbolic meaning for him.

The oldest part of the abbey that still exists is the Pyx Chamber Chapel, built in 1065. It was a crypt under the monastic cells, and for many centuries served as a treasury, first monastic, and then royal. The name "Pix" comes from special wooden boxes where new minted gold and silver coins were put. Then the boxes were handed over to an authorized jury, which was engaged in checking the coins for compliance with royal standards (the whole process was called the Trial of Pyx). There were also special scales for weighing precious metals, one of the most accurate in the world.

Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

Right near the western entrance to the church, in the center of the nave, is the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier - the burial place of an unidentified British soldier who died during the First World War. He was buried in the abbey on November 11, 1920, the second anniversary of the end of the war, in memory of the hundreds of thousands of British soldiers who fell on the battlefield. Of all the tombstones that can be seen in the abbey, only the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is forbidden to step on.

abbey museum

The Abbey Museum is located in a vaulted crypt under the former monastic dormitory. These premises date back to the 11th century and are one of the oldest buildings of the abbey, the same age as the church built by Edward the Confessor. The museum was opened to the public in 1908. Royal tombstones are exhibited here (in particular, tombstones of Edward III, Henry VII and his wife, Elizabeth of York, Charles II, William III, Mary II and Queen Anne), funeral decorations (saddle, helmet and shield of Henry V), medieval glass panels, fragments sculptures of the XII century, the coronation throne, copies of the coronation regalia of Mary II and many other historically valuable things and objects. During the restoration of the gravestone of Elizabeth I, a unique corset dated 1603 was discovered. Today it is exhibited separately. The latest addition to the museum's collection is a late 13th-century altarpiece, the oldest surviving in England.

Coronations in the abbey

The coronation ceremony is traditionally conducted by the Archbishop of Canterbury, head of the Church of England. A throne called the "King Edward's Chair" is used for the ceremony, which is interesting because it contains a historical relic of great importance, known as the Stone of Destiny, or Skoon Stone. The relic is a rectangular block of sandstone weighing 152 kilograms. According to legend, it was standing on this stone that Kenneth I, one of the first Scottish kings, was crowned. All his successors were also crowned on the stone, which thus became the symbol of Scottish independence.

King Edward I of England, having conquered Scotland, captured the stone in 1296 and brought it to London. He ordered that the relic be placed under the seat of the wooden throne (King Edward's Chair), on which English monarchs were crowned, to symbolically secure the supremacy of England over Scotland. Beginning in 1308, all monarchs were crowned on the renewed throne. Only once did the throne leave the walls of Westminster Abbey - in 1653 it was transferred to Westminster Hall for the ceremony of proclaiming Oliver Cromwell Lord Protector. As for the Skoon Stone, it was kept in the abbey from 1301 to 1996, except for a brief period in 1950, when it was briefly stolen by Scottish Nationalists. Today, the relic is kept in Edinburgh Castle in Scotland, but for future coronations of British monarchs, the stone will certainly be delivered to the abbey to take its traditional place under the seat of King Edward's Chair.

In the XII-XVIII centuries, Westminster Abbey also served as the burial place of English and British monarchs. Edward the Confessor was the first of the kings to find eternal rest within the walls of the abbey church. In the XII century, he was canonized, and his relics were enclosed in a shrine decorated with gold and precious stones and became an object of worship and pilgrimage for English believers. Most of the monarchs who died before 1760 are buried in the abbey, with the exception of Edward IV, Henry VIII and Charles I, who rest in the Chapel of St. George of Windsor Castle. After 1760, most monarchs and members of their families began to be buried either in the Chapel of St. George, or in the residence of Frogmore House (1 km west of Windsor Castle).