I’ve been obsessed with the Royals ever since I can remember. My love for Queen Elizabeth was obvious because we shared the same name, so much so that I wrote her a letter when I was little and was lucky enough to get one back from her “lady in waiting”. Being able to be inside of the place where she was coronated, being able to see the coronation chair, and walking that same ground was so amazing to me. Also being able to be in the same place where Kate and William recently got married was so amazing, from watching it on TV to actually being in that same room they were once in.
Even though we couldn’t take many pictures of Westminster, there were so many interesting things inside of it. I personally loved the way that it was a constantly changing church. The way our lovely tour guide described it as, things are constantly being added so we are not frozen in a gothic time, but rather be more dynamic. I really liked this concept because many times I am in a gothic church, it sometimes does feel a bit frozen in time. Not that some architecture shouldn’t be completely preserved in the completely original form, but I think it’s important to remember to stay dynamic and understanding as the ages pass.
Inside of the chapter house at Westminster
For our museum of choice, we went to Tower of London and saw the Crown Jewels, another very important part of the Royals that I was beyond excited to see.
White Tower at Tower of London
Frightening Traitor’s Gate at Tower of London
I can understand what you mean about a church feeling frozen in time. Westminster Abbey tries to break that with the juxtaposition of medieval tombs next to the glass box at the entry below the west works. I also enjoyed being in such an important place that’s currently used such as the abbey, but also the Tower of London where you get a feel of being within the walls of a fort and all of the good and bad acts happened where you walked. I still felt that weird feeling when turning around and seeing skyscrapers creeping above the walls or the robotic lawn mover in the moat, but I believe it is still good to preserve places no matter what time they came from.
I completely agree with you about Westminster! It was certainly a shock to hear that additions are constantly being added, I think creates a living and breathing space, whilst also preserving important history. I was also surprised to see just how crowded the space was, every corner was filled with a memorial to someone or something to look at (I was expecting that feeling at Sir John Soane’s Museum, not Westminster!). It makes me think of how the church is portrayed to the outside world, as we are not allowed to take pictures inside. I always saw it as an exquisite Gothic church, not unlike Salisbury, where an important and exclusive royal ceremony took place. However, after our visit I see it now much more as a place for the people, an opportunity to commemorate the great achievements of mankind.
Elizabeth,
I too think it was very special to be able to visit so many places that are brimming with Royal history. I think as Americans, there is even more of an air of mysticism and wonder surrounding the Royals than elsewhere due to our distance. While people in London walk by these sites every day, for us, its perhaps once in a lifetime. And as such, walking the halls that Queen Elizabeth walked is truly special.
I especially enjoyed Westminster Abbey. I find your ideas on how the church should stay dynamic and evolve as time progress compelling. I was a little thrown when our guide told us how a statue of Martin Luther King Jr. was part of the Westworks (not only because it was put in during the 90s but also because he’s American), but as we progressed throughout the church I came to appreciate this constant updating more and more. I believe Carrick commented on how one of the reasons Westminster Abbey continues to change is because it is in use, such as during coronations, whereas places like Salisbury remain fixed because its purpose is fixed. I am interested to see what the Abbey would look like years from now.
I completely agree with the concept of evolving and changing architecture, so as to not be stuck in the past. I truly do appreciate gothic churches because when I step into a traditional gothic church, there is an undeniable essence and familiarity that connects churches together. However, as much as I appreciate this aspect of a church, I do recognize the need to evolve with time and not to dwell or over idolize the past. That is why I do not understand how people still idolize the royal family. I do recognize that it is part of British culture, but the royal family is put on a pedestal when in reality they do not have as much power as they did in the past. In today’s age, there really is no need for the royal family but the citizens continue to pay taxes that partially fund the royal family.