Remembrance of Westminster

Standing next to the high altar of Westminster Abbey, we were listening to our tour guide discuss the history of coronation and the area itself. The time was nearing three o’clock, which I did not notice. What I did notice, however, was a man in a priest’s robes with a red stole, evidently an important figure in the abbey, approaching a booth directly above and behind where our tour guide was standing. When the clock struck three, the priest began to speak, asking the people in the abbey to join in an hourly prayer, and accidentally putting the fear of god in our tour guide. 

Westminster Abbey was a very interesting location to walk around, full of beautiful architecture, decorum befitting a dragon’s hoard, and an overall sense of grandeur that leaves an almost divine impression on those who venture within. Gold plated furniture and intricate stained glass murals depicting saints and all things biblical could be found at every turn. Giant statues and finely carved tombs were sequestered between halls for prayer and study. Between the religious iconography and terrifyingly sudden practices, the abbey acts as a final resting place to many of Britain’s finest, particularly royalty, throughout history, and is a monument to even more whose fame and achievements long outlive themselves.

From monarchs to soldiers to scientists to poets, Westminster is a memorial to great lives and minds that deserve to be remembered. The Poet’s Corner, which features many different famous writers and actors, included many people who I found interesting, such as: 

• Geoffrey Chaucer, who was an English poet born around 1340, commonly considered to be the “Father of English Literature” with his most famous work being The Canterbury Tales. He also wrote many other books such as The Book of the Duchess, Anelida and Arcite, and A Treatise on the Astrolabe. He also worked as a public servant for much of his life (which is why we know so much about his life compared to many of his contemporaries).
• David Garrick, who was an actor manager in England, with his breakout role being a portrayal of the titular character of Shakespeare’s Richard III. He was said to have a more relaxed, natural style of acting familiar to what we would see in theatre today but completely foreign at the time. His unique acting style drew the attention of crowds, and got him working as a theatre manager at Drury Lane, where he would direct and continue to influence other actors of his generation, likely leading to his style of acting becoming the one most seen today.
• Noel Coward, who was a writer and performer, both theatrical and lyrical, with works such as Cavalcade, Blithe Spirit, “London Pride”, and “Poor Little Rich Girl.” He also worked as apart of the Secret Service during WWII, creating propaganda works in order to encourage American assistance in the war effort and to bring up morale. He supposedly would have been knighted for his work, but was ultimately not given the honor due to his “flamboyant lifestyle.”

Overall, Westminster Abbey was a very interesting landmark to visit, and serves as a fantastic monument and memorial to many great figures.