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• History

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

  Art Architecture Christianity Notable people Royalty

• Explore our History

  Explore our History:.

• Cosmati Pavement

  The Cosmati Pavement was laid down in 1268 by order of Henry III who had started re-building the Abbey in the new Gothic style.

• 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.

• Misericords

  The word misericord comes from the Latin misericordia, meaning pity or mercy. These hinged oak seats in the chapel tip up to form a ledge.

• Oil paintings

  Several interesting oil paintings hang within Westminster Abbey or form part of its decoration. Most have been presented to the Abbey.

• 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.

• The Queen Elizabeth II window

  David Hockney’s stained glass window in Westminster Abbey is a vibrantly-coloured contemporary work commissioned to celebrate the reign of Queen Elizabeth II.

• 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.

• Stained Glass

  Westminster Abbey has very little medieval glass now remaining but there are good examples of glass from the 18th century to the present day.

• 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.