There are many places of interest in Great Britain, particularly in its capital city – London. Millions of visitors a year arrive in London to see the sights of the city. One of the most attractive constructions is Westminster Abbey. It attracts visitors not only with its architectural glory but also with its rich history and cultural importance. Westminster Abbey is the place where many outstanding Englishmen are buried, among them well-known poets, writers, scientists, statesmen, painters and many others. Many people who visit the Abbey want to commemorate such great men as William Shakespeare, Charles Darwin, Isaac Newton, Robert Burns, Bernard Show, Lord Byron, Walter Scott, Geoffrey Chaucer, and many others. The history of Westminster Abbey dates back to the Middle Ages or even the earlier times, as 900 years ago St. Peter found the first church on the place, where the Abbey is now situated. The present building appeared during the reign of Henry III. There is one more reason why people are highly interested in Westminster Abbey. According to the ancient tradition all English kings and queens were crowned and wed here. There is something special and wonderful about this building and it’s not only because of its impressive height and size. People who visit it for the first time are startled by its beauty and glory.
Westminster Abbey (or St. Peter's Cathedral Church in Westminster) is not only the famous landmark of London and England, but also the history of this country. The church is built in the Gothic style. It is the burial place of famous people and rulers of England, and is still the place of coronations of the monarchs of Britain. The construction of the church took quite a long time from 1245 to 1745, when each ruler was remodeling something. From the original appearance of the abbey there were no traces left. In 1245, Henry III started a rebuilding of the church in the Gothic style with the goal of creating a majestic temple for the solemn ceremonies of the coronation of monarchs. Westminster Abbey performs the functions assigned. Solemn ceremonies are held in the life of royal persons.There was the wedding ceremony of Prince William and Kate Middleton in April 2011 on the territory of Westminster Abbey, which was observed by the whole of Great Britain and many people around the world. The church impresses everyone with size. The length of the structure is more than 150 meters, and the height of the nave - the highest in England - 31 meters. Until now, Westminster Abbey is an active church, where services and liturgies are held. As before, during the services in the church the choir sings. The tombstones and monuments in the church remind everyone of the achievements and nobility of the people buried here.
