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Westminster Abbey is a large, multi-story church and probably the most famous religious building in the country. A visit to Westminster Abbey takes you through the country’s history, with monarchs, writers, scientists, and politicians involved in its 1000-year existence.

1. The current Westminster Abbey was started by Henry III in 1245 and is one of the most important Gothic buildings in the country.

2. The formal name for Westminster Abbey is actually The Collegiate Church of St. Peter, Westminster. Many religious activities are still held, but there are no more monks and nuns. Westminster Abbey has been designated as ″Royal Peculiar″, meaning that it is now under the direct jurisdiction of the current monarchs.

3. Westminster Abbey has the only Anglo-Saxon door dating from around 1050. Recent studies have shown that the planks were cut from a tree from Hainault, which grew between 924 and 1030.

4. Coronations took place at Westminster Abbey for British monarchs since 1066. In fact, 39 coronations took place at Westminster Abbey, the most recent being on June 2, 1953. This coronation was for the current monarch, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

5. The seat used in all royal coronations since 1308 is at Westminster Abbey. After a careful look at the ceremonial chair, also called the ″King Edward’s Chair″, it shows that it is covered with graffiti.

6. More than 3,300 people were buried or commemorated at Westminster Abbey. It includes seventeen British monarchs, including King Henry V. Other notable people buried at Westminster Abbey are Isaac Newton, Edward the Confessor, and Charles Dickens.

7. Seventeen royal weddings took place at Westminster Abbey, the most recent being on April 29, 2011. This was the royal wedding of Prince William of Wales, now Duke of Cambridge.

If you want to find out about Palace of Westminster, check out our article on this topic: 18 interesting facts about Palace of Westminster.

[Photo from Pixabay]