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• History

  Westminster Abbey is a treasure house of paintings, stained glass, pavements, textiles and artefacts – and is also where some significant people are buried or commemorated.

  Art Architecture Christianity Notable people Royalty

• Retable

  The Westminster Retable is England's oldest altarpiece. It is acknowledged to be amongst the most important surviving examples of panel painting from 13th century England.

• Processional crosses

  We have four processional crosses. The one used most often is made from ivory and silver gilt, and adorned with panels of gold and sapphires.

• Icons at Westminster Abbey

  Two icons were dedicated in the nave in 1994 and are near the grave of the Unknown Warrior. An icon of St Edward the Confessor was dedicated in 2019.

• Processional banners

  We have six processional banners, which are carried at festivals and certain special services. At other times, they’re usually displayed either side of the altar.

• History of Westminster Abbey

  An architectural masterpiece of the 13th to 16th centuries, Westminster Abbey houses tombs and memorials to kings and queens and the famous and the great.

• Wall paintings

  Our most important wall paintings are from the late 13th century, and include the figures of St Faith, Christ with St Thomas, and St Christopher.

• Abbey bells

  Westminster Abbey now has ten bells which are rung on church festivals and for royal and other occasions.

• Benedictine monastery

  The monks at Westminster Abbey wore the habit of the Order of St Benedict, who established the Benedictine rules for the monks in about 540AD.

• Abbots & Deans

  List of Abbots of the monastery and Deans of the Collegiate Church.

• Modern Martyrs

  Above the Abbey's Great West Door stand ten statues to modern martyrs - Christians who gave up their lives for their beliefs.

• Vestments and frontals

  The Abbey uses many different vestments and altar hangings during the year.

• Crib

  The Christmas Crib figures at Westminster Abbey were carved at Oberammergau in 1965.