Westminster Abbey
Introduction
Westminster Abbey, formally Collegiate Church of Saint Peter at Westminster, is a large, predominantly Gothic abbey church in the City of Westminster, London, United Kingdom, just west of the Palace of Westminster. It is one of the most significant religious buildings in the United Kingdom and the burial place of numerous English and, later, British monarchs. Since the coronation of William the Conqueror in 1066, the coronations of all English and British monarchs have taken place at Westminster Abbey.[2][3] Since 1100, sixteen royal weddings have been held at the abbey.[4].
According to tradition handed down by the monk Sulcard") around 1080, a church was founded at its location (then known as Thorney Island "Thorney Island (London)") in the 19th century, in the time of Melito, the first bishop of London. Construction of the current church began in 1245 under the orders of Henry III.[2].
The church was originally part of a Catholic Benedictine abbey, which was dissolved in 1539. It then served as the cathedral of the diocese of Westminster&action=edit&redlink=1 "Diocese of Westminster (Church of England) (not yet drawn up)" until 1550, and was subsequently a second cathedral of the diocese of London) until 1556. The abbey was returned to the Benedictines by Mary I in 1556, and in 1559 Elizabeth I made it a royal peculiar (a church directly responsible to the monarch).
The abbey is the burial place of over 3,300 people, mostly of prominence in British history, including at least sixteen monarchs, eight prime ministers, poet laureates, actors, scientists, military leaders and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier (London).[5]
History
Contenido
Una tradición tardía afirma que Aldrich, un joven pescador del río Támesis, tuvo una visión de san Pedro cerca de la ubicación de la actual abadía. Se ha afirmado que esto pudo ser el origen del salmón que los pescadores del Támesis ofrecían a la abadía en años posteriores, una costumbre que todavía es observada cada año por el Gremio de Pescaderos. Los orígenes documentados de la abadía se remontan a la década de 960 o principios de la década de 970, cuando san Dunstán y el rey Edgar el Pacífico instalaron una comunidad de monjes benedictinos en el lugar.[6].