Westminster Abbey has played many roles throughout history. Most importantly, it has been used as the coronation church since 1066 (westminsterabbey.org). Every King and Queen of England from that point on was crowned at Westminster Abbey, except the two Kings who were never crowned, Edward V and Edward VIII (Hutchinson). The abbey had numerous uses throughout its history. Not only does Westminster Abbey play an important role in British history, but it is also truly a masterpiece. There is no exact date for the founding of this outstanding piece of architecture as its construction was a long process over many centuries. It is said that the location of the abbey held a shrine dedicated to St. Peter in the seventh century (Hutchinson). Then, …show more content…
These are just a few of the numerous purposes the abbey has served. In western civilization, the idea of having one piece of architecture serve so many uses was a new idea, “In France, by contrast, these functions are divided among five separate monuments” (Richard Jenkyns). Most importantly, the abbey has been the site of coronation since 1066, (westminsterabbey.org). On a daily scale, the abbey has acted as the catholic church, monastery, and a pilgrimage destination (Hutchinson). Lastly, the abbey acts as a big burial place; the abbey contains nearly 3,000 bodies, including many famous people, such as Charles Dickens, Isaac Newton, Charles Darwin, Elizabeth I, Ernest Rutherford, Henry III, Edward the Confessor, and Henry V (westminsterabbey.org). The importance of Westminster Abbey is shown by a royal document from King Stephen. “Writ of King Stephen, informing the justice, sheriff, barons, and officers of Essex that he quitclaims to the church of St Peter of Westminster and the monks the sheriff's aid called justice-aid, at the rate of 1s. annually on each hide in Essex” (Stephen 113). This demonstrates how valuable Westminster Abbey is to the king from him stating the …show more content…
Today, the Abbey continues to act as the site of coronation (Hutchinson). It also holds many weddings and continues to be the burial place of many important individuals. Westminster Abbey is still a church today and holds 5 services every day (westminsterabbey.org). Additionally, the abbey acts as a pilgrimage destination for many people (westminsterabbey.org). The abbey is a famous tourist attraction, people come from all around the world to see Westminster Abbey. It is an amazing piece of architecture that played a major role in the development of western civilization. Westminster Abbey was significant to western civilization for many reasons. When Edward the Confessor built the abbey, the abbey became the center of royal power like none before (Dr. Jesse Harasta). It held numerous valuable responsibilities in the society. He also built it as the royal church of England, one that is above others like Canterbury and York (Dr. Jesse Harasta). When King Henry III rebuilt the abbey, he created a spectacular piece of architecture that still causes awe in our minds. After his reconstruction, the abbey continued to be significant to society in many ways. The abbey acted as the site of coronation, marriage, burial, royal treasury, parliament, tourism, and pilgramigism (Hutchinson). Throughout western civilization, Westminster Abbey played a significant role in society like no outstanding
The history between the British Empire and its dominions always was significantly distinguished through the strong ties which people connected to the mother-country of Britain. However, as always in history changes were about to happen as each dominion urged to become more and more independent. The end of this process is marked by the Statute of Westminster passed in 1931 which granted the former dominions full legal freedom and established legislative equality between the now self-governing dominions of the British Empire. Therefore, the Statute of Westminster is one of the most remarkable acts in Canadian history as it set the road to the development of Canada in which we live today.
The 1931 Statute of Westminster can be seen as the logical end of the years of negotiations on change between Britain and her Dominions, which include Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa and Newfoundland. The origins of the Statue date back to the Imperial Conference in 1926 where Lord Balfour, Britain’s Foreign Minster, suggested that all Dominions should be given the right to full autonomy in their legislations. This would result in equality amongst Britain and its Dominions It made several key provisions; British parliament could no longer nullify laws in the Dominions, the Dominions were able to make their own extra-territorial laws, and British law no longer had to be applied in the Dominions.
King Henry VIII is considerable the most controversial monarch Great Britain has ever had. He is commonly known for his ill-advised decisions, six wives, and splitting Great Britain from the Catholic Church to create the Church of England. King Henry VIII of England’s determination to guarantee his family line’s continuation in the throne caused many problems, such as religious tensions, economic hardships, and political adversaries that continued one long after his death.
While intense battles needed soldiers and brave men to fight them, King George was a family man. He had to have been involved with coming up with new laws and taxes, and also battles that paved the way for the founding of America, but he was also involved with his family. He had a wife and sixteen children, ten sons and six daughters and was known for caring for them. His family was as important to him as his work as king over a powerful nation in Europe. He was married to Sophia Charlotte, the daughter of Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz and was succeeded by his son, George, who became King George IV. In 1762, he bought the Buckingham House in London for his family. They lived there and it became the Buckingham Palace.
Queen Elizabeth had many different palaces, many workers for the palaces, and the many responsibilities of the workers. All the queen’s palaces were extremely ravishing with many embellishments inside the palaces. Lastly, the queen’s palaces had many interesting activities that took place in form entertainment in the palaces. Queen Elizabeth owned fifty houses and sixty castles in total but, "Elizabeth had 14 palaces in regular use at her disposal as well as numerous "stately homes" throughout England owned by noblemen and gentry.” Elizabeth owned Whitehall, the tower, Greenwich, St. James’s, Somerset house, the charterhouse, and Durham place. The night prior coronation, and Durham place was reserved for the ambassadors and guests (Olsen Para 1). Since Queen Elizabeth had many palaces and the palaces were magnificent and fascinating because the queens palaces were filled with many workers, the inside palace was spectacular, and there were many forms of entertainment.
Architects of the Elizabethan era designed many amazingly beautiful buildings and structures. Elizabethan architecture went further than just what the architects told the builders to do and the builders are given far less credit than they deserve. They carved out amazingly intricate designs into the wood and stone of these buildings, they poured their souls into their work and were still forgotten because what are they but some random members of the lower class. Elizabethan architecture has more to it than just looks, the structures were built to last luxuriously and each has a history going back before the day they laid the foundation. The architecture descends from the Tudor Style while also admiring Greek and Roman architecture and contained many influences from when England invaded India.
The Tower of London is one of the most famous historical buildings in the world. Constructed by William the Conqueror in 1078, this grim, grey, and awe-inspiring tower, is the most haunted building in England. Perhaps the most well known ghostly residents of the Tower of London are the spirits of Anne Boleyn, Sir Walter Raleigh, The Princes in the Tower and among others.
First and foremost, the English Christian embrace of Roman Christian tradition causes the Pope to become a more powerful figure, with an increase in the amount of people that look to him for guidance. Prior to Gregory sending Augustine to England, he was already one of the largest landowners in Rome, overseeing hundreds of estates affiliated with the Roman Church (MP p. 48). Along with this responsibility, at this time the Pope was also responsible for the military defense of Rome. Add to this the religious guidance over the English that came with England’s conversion to Roman Christianity, and the title of Pope had become a very powerful position. Along with the increasing power of the Pope, this conversion also created a stronger connection between England and Rome. English abbots and monks made many trips to Rome, bring back relics, and artifacts for use in their own monasteries (SH p.66). These journeys not only brought back artifacts and relics, but also books causing the culture of England became more of a mixture with aspects of the culture of Rome, particularly in respect to Art. With the importing of Roman books, English art began to increasingly depict the human form, something that had not been as common before (SH
...ample. Henry VIII was also responsible for the religious reformation in England and changed the religion of England from the Roman Catholic faith to the Protestant Religion, and established the Church of England. If it weren’t for King Henry VIII, England would not have been as wealthy as it was because of the dissolution of the monasteries. The Act of Appeals aided the constitutional development of England, once again, all thanks to Henry VIII.
Elizabeth lived most of her life, till she reached the age of twenty-five, in exile and one of the places she lived was Hatfield. It was in this places that Elizabeth waited for Queen Mary to kick the bucket and give the throne over to her. Even then Elizabeth still didn’t think she would ever inherit up to this point. A few years ago she had been thrown in the Tower of Lo...
Edward V’s place in history rests only on his being the oldest of the two Princes in the Tower. Otherwise, he is merely a pawn whereby Richard of Gloucester became King Richard III.
With the withdrawal of the Roman Empire on the city of London came also the extraction of the Roman gods faith. Medieval London was taken by people who prayed to saints asking them to intercede for them with God. London’s first cathedral built by the Anglo-Saxon was destroyed by fire in 1087. Following the fire the church is rebuilt again by the Normans, after 1241 recruits began almost immediately on extending the east end in the new gothic style (Museum of London). To show they were devout Christians, Londoners went on pilgrimages to distant shrines where the body of a saint or some other holy relic was preserved. Many of the saints were adopted from the religion in different countries, but London’s own saints were displayed in the common seal of the c...
The building is also known for two main spaces: the Lord’s Chamber and the Common’s Chamber. It is well identified by its main façade, which runs parallel to the River Thames. The Palace, as it stands today, has been conserved very well to best display the designs as Charles Barry and Pugin intended them to be displayed. The Palace was, and remains, the center for political life in the United Kingdom, just as it remains a major iconic landmark of London. Many articles and books have been written discussing and disputing the history and design of the New Palace of Westminster, as well as the involvement of the Charles Barry and A.W.N....
...er is still an economic boost to the city of London as a must see. Because the structure was so impressive, it brought quite a bit of tourism to the city. The designs were extremely important to the people because it showed the greatness of their country and still held the conservative belief that was once lost in the past. It just goes to show just how important it was to the church, the people, and to the commonwealth of the cities and towns that had such amazing structures erected.
The Tower of London, in central London, has a gloomy past. There was bloodshed, ghosts, wars, imprisonment, torture, and jewels. The Towers past maybe dark and gloomy but the history surrounding it is fascinating.