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Creation Date
1905
Description
Construction of the present-day building began in 1245 under King Henry III when he demolished the original monastery built by Edward the Confessor and decided to rebuild in the new Gothic style. The latest additions were finished around 1745. Starting with William the Conqueror in 1066, every monarch has been crowned at the abbey, except for Edward V and Edward VIII because their reigns ended before their coronations. Since Henry VIII, Westminster Abbey has been a Royal Peculiar, meaning it is under the direct control of the monarch instead of a bishop and diocese. The abbey's cultural importance led to its designation in 1987 as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Creative Commons License
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Keywords
Westminster Abbey, Collegiate Church of Saint Peter at Westminster, London, England, United Kingdom, Anglicanism, English monarchy, British monarchy, Henry III
