Westminster Abbey history | London’s royal church’s timeless legacy

The history of Westminster Abbey can be traced back to its creation in 1050 when Edward the Confessor began building his church on the west end of Thorney Island. The foundation was laid by King Edgar around 1090 and it became an abbey during the late 1100s under Henry II.

Westminster Abbey timeline

• c. 960 CE: A Benedictine monastery is established on Thorney Island, laying the groundwork for what would eventually become Westminster Abbey.
• 1040s: King Edward the Confessor enlarges and rededicates the monastery’s church—later called the “West Minster”—in honor of St. Peter.
• 1065: Edward the Confessor’s new church is consecrated on December 28, although the king is too ill to attend; he dies shortly after and is interred there.
• 1066: William the Conqueror is crowned at the Abbey on December 25, establishing its long-standing role as the coronation church for English (and later British) monarchs.
• 1245–1269: King Henry III commissions an extensive rebuild of the Abbey in the Gothic style, culminating in the consecration of the new church in 1269.
• 1516: The magnificent Lady Chapel, built under King Henry VII in the Tudor style, is dedicated and becomes a focal point for royal tombs and ceremonies.
• 1560: Queen Elizabeth I re-founds Westminster Abbey as a Collegiate Church, ensuring that it remains directly under the monarch’s jurisdiction rather than the diocesan structure.
• 1649: Amid the political and religious upheavals of the English Civil War, the monarchy is abolished, and Westminster Abbey’s traditional royal ceremonies are suspended.
• 1660: With the restoration of the monarchy with King Charles II, the Abbey regains its central role in state and royal ceremonies.
• 1727: The eminent scientist Sir Isaac Newton is buried within the Abbey’s walls, making it a mausoleum not only for royalty but also for distinguished cultural and scientific figures.
• 1760: The interment of King George II in 1760 marks the final royal burial at Westminster Abbey.
• 1838: At the age of 19, Queen Victoria is crowned in Westminster Abbey.
• 1914: Suffragettes plant a bomb near the Coronation Chair and Stone of Scone, causing minor damage as a part of their intense struggle for women’s rights.
• 1953: Westminster Abbey hosts the first televised coronation in British history as Queen Elizabeth II ascends the throne.
• 2023: Continuing its royal legacy, Westminster Abbey serves as the venue for King Charles III’s coronation.

Construction of Westminster Abbey

The construction of Westminster Abbey, a Gothic cathedral in London, commenced in 1245 under the directive of King Henry III. The project, led by masons like Henry of Reyns, John of Gloucester, and Robert of Beverley, drew inspiration from cathedrals such as Reims, Amiens, and Chartres. This influence was evident in the adoption of features such as an apse with radiating chapels, pointed arches, ribbed vaulted ceilings, extensive cloisters, and innovative flying buttresses. 

Despite the challenges posed by the project's scale, the demand for highly skilled labor, and the complex logistics of material procurement, the construction of the abbey emerged as a testament to the zenith of Gothic architectural achievement, marrying scale with detail to forge a lasting symbol of historical and architectural distinction.