Westminster Abbey: Cool Dead People Everywhere!

Westminster Abbey is one of the most famous cathedrals in all of Europe. Its where every royal coronation takes place and is the resting place of many important historical figures! The architecture is much more gothic in style than that of St. Paul’s Cathedral that we visited earlier in the trip. While touring Westminster Abbey, I was incredibly intrigued to see the coronation chair that so many monarchs have sat in on the most important days of their lives. Our tour guide Molly said that back in the day, the chair wasn’t protected from the public and was put on display in such a way that people could easily vandalize the relic. She told us that idiot schoolboys loved to carve their names into one of Britain’s most important historical pieces. This fact alone made me burst into laughter because WHAT?!?! Who on earth would ruin this great piece of British history like that? And why would the people in charge of the chair let that happen? You live and you learn, I guess.

Among the important monarchs buried here, many famous authors, scientists, and philanthropists are buried here as well. The graves and memorials that really stuck out to me were that of Charles Darwin, Stephen Hawking, and Isaac Newton. These men were all buried within feet of each other in this little scientist corner of the church. It seems strange to me for these men to even be buried in one of the most famous churches in the entire world as the church on the whole didn’t agree with a lot of the beliefs these great scientists held. Darwin was very adamant that we humans evolved from apes which I am certain the church did not like. Maybe it had to do with his fame. Darwin was an incredibly important contributor to science and with a name that big, the church obviously felt it appropriate to let him rest in Westminster Abbey.

Another little corner of the church where famous people were memorialized was the Poet’s Corner. Here, many famous authors like Jane Austen, John Keats, and William Shakespeare are memorialized for their contribution to literature. These authors aren’t buried in the church but memorialized and honored there. Jane Austen is one of my favorite authors of all time. Her novels are beautiful and highlight women in a way that was almost unheard of in her time. Women were often expected to be seen and not heard. Jane allowed the women of her time to see that they could and should have the same rights and opportunities as their male counterparts. I love strong and powerful women who lift up other strong and powerful women. Jane Austen will forever hold a special place in my heart and it was an honor to see that Westminster Abbey feels the same.