The Westminster Abbey is a gorgeous Gothic-style church that took over 500 years to build. The outside has ornate details and many tripled windows with pointed arches. The walls are also very thin and have flying buttresses to support them. The flying buttresses allow the building to be built taller which allows it and its occupants to be closer to Heaven and God. The Westminster Abbey reminded me of the cathedrals in Spain, especially the Toledo Cathedral, which I visited a few years ago. Construction started on the two different cathedrals more than 200 years apart, so I was not expecting the similarities between the two. Both are Gothic architecture and have many of the same details. Both also have thin pillars on the walls inside that run towards the ceiling, bringing the eyes of occupants up towards the very detailed and gorgeous ceilings. Above the Royal Entrance into the Westminster Abbey, there are 14 statues of different people – ten are those who died for their beliefs, while the other four are the Virtues (Justice, Truth, Mercy, and Peace). Among the ten is Martin Luther King, the African American who fought during the Civil Rights Movement. I found it very interesting that an American was celebrated for his work, but I suppose it shows that the Christians of London love all who sacrifice themselves for the goodness of mankind. I do believe that Martin Luther King earned his place as part of the ten because he made one of the most significant contributions to equality in America in my opinion. Without him, people of color would have many more obstacles to overcome.
Once inside the Royal Entrance, there is a stone on the wall dedicated to Franklin Delano Roosevelt, the U.S. President that worked with Winston Churchill to end World War II. Another shrine that is directly inside the Royal Entrance is the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior, similar to America’s Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The Tomb of the Unknown Warrior contains an unidentified soldier from World War II that died in France. The Tomb of the Unknown Warrior is one of the few memorials and tombs that cannot be walked over. I think the similarities between the two memorials show how sacred an unidentified soldier is, no matter the country.
Another interesting part of the Westminster Abbey is Poet’s Corner. Before visiting, I had believed that only royals and war heroes were part of the church by burials and memorials. Once I arrived, I saw many other politicians and scientists, but still no literary figures. Therefore, I was extremely surprised by the number of poets and authors that were either buried or remembered in the church: Lewis Carroll, Charles Dickens, Keats, and Shakespeare. My mother used to read to me Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll while growing up and gave me her copy of the book from when she was a child. I also love Keats poetry, which is often quoted in one of my favorite book series by Jillian Dodd. My favorite poem by Keats would have to be “Endymion.” The way Keats wrote was its own art form, and I believe that this is why the people of the church chose to commemorate him. Due to this, Poet’s Corner is my favorite part of the Westminster Abbey.