Westminster Abbey

   Westminster Abbey, also known as The Collegiate Church of St. Peter, has been an operating church for over 1,000 years.  The two western towers were constructed in a Gothic architectural style and have recently been cleaned to reveal the true color of the stone they had been originally built with.  New statues adorn the archway with modern day heroes and martyrs of the twentieth century.  I have noticed that a lot of historical and old buildings of London architecture from many different time periods built up to create a time-line of history in the building itself.  The inside of Westminster Abbey was even more ornate than the beautiful architecture on the outside.  I was literally breathless when I first entered the church and I was amazed at the height and detail of the ceiling from which crystal chandeliers hung.  It was easily the most beautiful building I have ever seen and I could not remember the last time I was in such awe.  The Abbey was built in the eleventh century by Edward the Confessor.  Years later more architecture was added by Henry III and then Henry IV extended it, this part being called the Lady Chamber.  It is incredible how much history is included in this building, and it also houses a number of famous graves of English monarchs and even scientists and poets, which I was not aware of until we were standing on them in the floor tiles.  Among these include Queen Elizabeth I, Mary I, Charles Darwin, Isaac Newton and Charles Dickens.  It was really a great experience to walk over the graves of these famous British people while appreciating their place in history and their accomplishments.  There was also a huge number of smaller rooms of burials and memorials that were just as carefully and beautifully built.  The sheer size of the church was overwhelming yet amazing.  I was disappointed me were not allowed to take pictures once inside, however Westminster Abbey was my favorite historical landmark that I have seen so far seen in London.