A comprehensive and authoritative history that explores the
significance of one of the most famous buildings and institutions in
England
Westminster Abbey was one of the most powerful churches in Catholic
Christendom before transforming into a Protestant icon of British
national and imperial identity. Celebrating the 750th anniversary of the
consecration of the current Abbey church building, this book features
engaging essays by a group of distinguished scholars that focus on
different, yet often overlapping, aspects of the Abbey's history: its
architecture and monuments; its Catholic monks and Protestant clergy;
its place in religious and political revolutions; its relationship to
the monarchy and royal court; its estates and educational endeavors; its
congregations; and its tourists. Clearly written and wide-ranging in
scope, this generously illustrated volume is a fascinating exploration
of Westminster Abbey's thousand-year history and its meaning,
significance, and impact within society both in Britain and beyond.
Paul Mellon Centre for Studies in British Art in association with the
Dean and Chapter of the Collegiate Church of St Peter Westminster
(Westminster Abbey)/Distributed by Yale University Press
