Westminster Abbey: England's Treasure Chest

As I sauntered through Westminster Abbey on Friday morning, it felt almost as if I was in a dream, or rather, in a time machine, propelling me into England's past. The church is chock-full with history, containing hundreds of relics from England’s rich cultural traditions. Going through Westminster Abbey and seeing the tombs of kings, queens, important historical figures, and everyday people helped me comprehend the reasons why England values preserving the past so much. When I saw the Coronation Chair that has been used for every monarch’s coronation for a thousand years, I realized just how much the English strive for continuity while accepting change. It was cool to see how the Coronation Chair embodied this national principle.

Another highlight from Westminster Abbey was Poet’s Corner. Looking at the memorials for all of the poets and authors from years past, this quote from George Eliot’s memorial caught my eye: “The first condition of human goodness is something to love: the second something to reverence.” I thought this summed up one of the purposes of Westminster Abbey: as well as being a place of worship, it also serves as a symbol and final resting place for many of the things that England holds dear.

As I left the Abbey, I briefly stopped at the Grave of the Unknown Warrior. I thought this was a poignantly simple tribute to all of the young men who sacrificed their lives on the battlefields of Europe in WWI and II. On the simple black marble was inscribed, “They buried him among kings because he had done good toward God and toward his house.” This memorial showed me how scarring the World Wars were for England, and how that scar hasn’t fully healed today.