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| Ten Modern Martyrs, Including Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., on the Outside of Westminster Abbey |
Anyone who's seen a royal wedding or funeral can't help but be intrigued by the grandeur of
Westminster Abbey. Recently, I've done some genealogy and discovered that I am descended from a King of England who is buried in the Abbey, so there was an additional layer of intrigue for me. I took advantage of the opportunity to visit the enormous church twice on my quick trip through London.
My first trip to the Abbey was on a Sunday so it wasn't open to visitors. Nevertheless, the area was teeming with people paying their respects to veterans on Remembrance Day. The courtyard outside the Abbey was filled with crosses representing people from all over the world who served in various wars, and visitors stopped to add the names and photos of friends and loved ones to the group. There were a number of veterans who had gathered for the parades happening that day, and it was touching to see them walk among the crosses looking for familiar names and groups.
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| Remembrance Day Celebrations, London |
Two days later, I had the chance to return to the Abbey to look around when it was open. I was surprised by the steep £16 entry fee but, of course, paid it anyway. At least visitors are offered a free audio guide.
The features of the Abbey are comparable to those of most major European churches or cathedrals. It has an impressive choir and nave lined with chapels. One distinguishing aspect is the number of tombs of notable figures in English history including everyone from Oliver Cromwell to Mary, Queen of Scots to Charles Darwin. As someone who loves poetry and literature, I was enamored standing in Poets’ Corner and looking at the memorials to T.S. Eliot, Alfred Lord Tennyson, Lord Byron and so many other literary greats. It was definitely worth the second visit to see inside.
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| Westminster Abbey |
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| Remembrance Day Crosses at Westminster Abbey |
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| Remembrance Day Observance, Westminster Abbey |
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