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Westminster Abbey
@westminsterabbey.bsky.social
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A royal church offering daily services for all and a World Heritage Site with over a thousand years of history.
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Our glorious 13th-century Chapter House is decorated with wall paintings including scenes of the Apocalypse and the Last Judgement. The paintings were the gift of John of Northampton, a monk of Westminster from 1375-1404.

#Museum30 #Mural
The large octagonal Chapter House at Westminster Abbey. There is a high vaulted ceiling a tall stained glass windows. Sunlight falling across medieval wall paintings in Westminster Abbey's Chapter House Sunlight falling across the wall paintings in Westminster Abbey's Chapter House
November 28, 2025 at 1:11 PM
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For #teachers preparing lessons on Advent and Christmas, our free online learning resources include image banks and guides for primary and secondary students.

Explore the collection at: www.westminster-abbey.org/learning/teaching-resources/catalogue?typ=keyword&tag=Christian%20festivals
A group of choristers, wearing red cassocks and white surplices, smiling as they stand together lighting candles
November 27, 2025 at 3:23 PM
westminsterabbey.bsky.social
This dramatic Abbey memorial is to Elizabeth Nightingale. The relief depicts a skeleton of Death emerging from his prison to aim his deadly dart at the dying figure of Elizabeth above. She is held up by her husband Joseph, who, in horror, tries to ward off the stroke of Death.

#Museum30 #Moving
A dramatic marble memorial featuring two elegantly dressed figures leaning against each other beneath a stone arch. Below them, a draped figure of Death hovers with a staff, creating a dynamic scene.
November 26, 2025 at 3:05 PM
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Look around the Abbey and you'll find many depictions of animals, both real and mythical.

From the lions at the foot of the Coronation Chair to a carved dragon in the Lady Chapel or this charming elephant from a bestiary in our archive collection, which is your favourite?

#Museum30 #Animal
A small wooden carving of a dragon A golden, intricately carved lion figurine with a flowing mane and fierce expression stands on a rectangular base of the coronation chair. Its mouth is open, revealing sharp teeth. An illustration of a elephant with exaggerated flappy ears and a long trunk, taken from a medieval bestiary (or 'book of beasts'). Mounted on the elephant's back is a fortified structure or tower in green and red, occupied by soldiers in armor. One soldier stands, appearing to shoot an arrow from the top, while others look out from windows.
November 23, 2025 at 4:11 PM
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'In winter's cold and summer's parching heat'
- Henry VI, Part II (I, 1)

The Abbey's Gothic North Door pictured on a snowy December day and during this summer's heatwave.

#ShakespeareSunday #HotAndCold
The gothic north front of Westminster Abbey, with a Christmas tree and the ground outside both covered in snow The gothic north front of Westminster Abbey on a bright summer's day with a clear blue sky in the background
November 23, 2025 at 12:25 PM
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Musician Henry Purcell died #onthisday in 1695.

He served as the Abbey's organist for 16 years and composed music for State occasions including the coronations of James II in 1685 and William and Mary in 1689.

He is buried in the Abbey and remembered with a memorial tablet in Poets' Corner.
A white marble memorial tablet to Henry Purcell on a pillar in Westminster Abbey. It has an inscription in English and Latin reading: Here lyes HENRY PURCELL, Esqr. who left this life and is gone to that blessed place where only his harmony can be exceeded. Died 21 of November in the 37th year of his age, A.D. 1695
November 21, 2025 at 9:33 AM
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HM Queen Elizabeth II (the then Princess Elizabeth) married Prince Philip here in the Abbey #onthisday in 1947.

The couple would later return to the Abbey for services of thanksgiving to celebrate their Silver, Golden and Diamond wedding anniversaries.
A black and white photograph of the then Princess Elizabeth with Prince Philip on their wedding day A photograph of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip seated in Westminster Abbey at a service celebrating their silver wedding anniversary in 1972. Seated beside them are other members of the Royal Family including Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother and Princess Anne. A photograph of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip at a service in Westminster Abbey to celebrate their diamond wedding anniversary in 2007. The royal couple stand in the nave as they view a copy of their marriage record, which is displayed in a glass case.
November 20, 2025 at 10:19 AM
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This 'peepshow' was made to celebrate the coronation of William IV here at the Abbey in 1831. Peepshows were popular souvenirs, ingeniously unfolding to create magical 3D views of famous events, places and stories. This one shows the coronation service from the Abbey’s triforium.

#Museum30 #Magic
The front cover of a 'peep show', a book of paper cut outs which gives a 3D illustration of the coronation of William IV A colour illustration of the coronation of George IV in Westminster Abbey. A woman with blonde hair and glasses is closely examining a coronation 'peepshow' in a glass case in a museum.
November 19, 2025 at 1:11 PM
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Today's #Museum30 theme is #Makers, so we're celebrating Thomas Preston, the scribe who hand wrote the Litlyngton Missal - a 14th-century service book made for the Abbey's High Altar.

Thomas lived in the monastery while he worked on the missal and later became a monk at the Abbey.
An image of a page of handwritten manuscript with an illuminated boarder A book open at a double page with an intricate illustration of the crucifixion on the left-hand side, and a page of text with an illuminated boarder on the right An illustration of saints from an illuminated manuscript
November 17, 2025 at 1:53 PM
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'We are in God's hand'
- Henry V (III, 6)

#ShakespeareSunday
A photograph taken looking up towards the underside of the quire screen and the vaulted ceiling soaring high above the nave of Westminster Abbey
November 16, 2025 at 12:09 PM
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In 1947, the Abbey's organist William McKie was responsible for arranging the music for the royal wedding of the then Princess Elizabeth to Prince Philip. Among the music performed was his own composition, the motet 'We wait for thy loving kindness, O God'.

#Museum30 #Kindness
A black and white portrait photograph of William McKie A black and white photograph of Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip on their wedding day
November 15, 2025 at 12:49 PM
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The heaviest object on display in The Queen's Diamond Jubilee Galleries is this limestone sarcophagus, which was dug up on the Abbey's north green in 1869. It was used for two burials - a Roman one in about AD 300-400, and a Saxon one in about AD 900-1000.

#Museum30 #Heavy
A large limestone sarcophagus in a museum gallery
November 14, 2025 at 2:47 PM
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Wishing HM The King a very Happy Birthday today!

His Majesty is pictured here meeting our choristers after our annual Commonwealth Day here at the Abbey in March.
HM The King smiling as he meets choristers outside Westminster Abbey
November 14, 2025 at 9:19 AM
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HRH The Princess of Wales will return to Westminster Abbey to host a special Christmas carol service on Friday 5 December: www.westminster-abbey.org/abbey-news/p...
The Princess of Wales, wearing a red coat with a black velvet bow, smiles as she arrives outside Westminster Abbey for a service
November 13, 2025 at 10:04 AM
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Did you know that our services are available to stream worldwide? You can join us in worship from the comfort of your own home, watching either live or on demand via our website at: www.westminster-abbey.org/worship-music/watch-services

#Museum30 #Digital
Members of the Choir of Westminster Abbey, wearing red cassocks and white surplices, singing from the Abbey's quire stalls.
November 12, 2025 at 10:19 AM
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Every November since 1928, veterans have gathered at the Abbey's Field of Remembrance for a moment of quiet reflection to honour friends who have fallen in the service of their country.

This year's Field is open until 16 November, and everyone is welcome to visit.

#Museum30 #Reflection
A photograph of a Chelsea Pensioner, wearing a red tunic and pictured from behind as he takes a moment to reflect at Westminster Abbey's Field of Remembrance
November 11, 2025 at 3:40 PM
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Afternoon sunlight streams into the Abbey through The Queen's Window, designed by David Hockney and installed in 2018 to celebrate the reign of HM Queen Elizabeth II. The vividly coloured country scene reflects The Queen's deep affection for the countryside.

#Museum30 #Rainbow
A large stained glass window in Westminster Abbey, in shades of blue, green, red and yellow Evening sunlight streaming in through a large stained glass window in Westminster Abbey Evening sunlight streaming in through a stained glass window and bathing the north transept of Westminster Abbey in coloured light
November 10, 2025 at 5:05 PM
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'Praising what is lost makes the remembrance dear'
- All's Well that Ends Well (V, 3)

Every November since 1928 veterans have gathered at the Field of Remembrance at Westminster Abbey to honour friends who have fallen in the service of their country.

#ShakespeareSunday #LoveAndLoss
A Chelsea Pensioner, wearing a scarlet tunic and black hat, pauses to look at tributes to fallen service personnel at the Westminster Abbey Field of Remembrance
November 9, 2025 at 12:36 PM
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'At the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them.'

#RemembranceSunday #Remembrance2025 #LestWeForget
A photograph of the Grave of the Unknown Warrior. The black marble gravestone is surrounded by a border of faux red poppies, and people have left Remembrance poppies on the grave in tribute to fallen service personnel.
November 9, 2025 at 10:59 AM
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We're holding our annual #RemembranceSunday service in the Abbey this morning, as we pray for peace and remember lives lost in conflict.

We'll be steaming the service from 10:50am (GMT), and you can watch live or on demand: www.westminster-abbey.org/worship-music/watch-services?id=15812
The High Altar in Westminster Abbey dressed in funeral array
November 9, 2025 at 8:29 AM
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This beautiful seal bag, embroidered with the Royal Arms of England, was made in 1280 to protect the wax seal attached to a charter from the reign of Edward I. It's a fine example of 'opus anglicanum' - highly-prized English embroideries with gold and silver thread.

#Museum30 #Stitch
A small woolen red and green pouch, with three gold embroidered lions, attached to a medieval manuscript
November 8, 2025 at 2:45 PM
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Buried among the kings: Discover the remarkable story of the Unknown Warrior and how, in 1920, his body was brought from the battlefields of northern France to be buried in the Abbey:
https://www.westminster-abbey.org/history/explore-our-history/buried-among-the-kings

#Remembrance #LestWeForget
The Grave of the Unknown Warrior in Westminster Abbey. The black marble gravestone is surrounded by a border of red poppies and is inscribed with the words: Beneath this stone rests the body of a British Warrior unknown by name or rank, brought from France to lie among the most illustrious of the land and buried here on Armistice Day, 11 Nov 1920, in the presence of His Majesty King George V, his Ministers of State, the Chiefs of his forces and a vast concourse of the nation Thus are commemorated the many multitudes who during the Great War of 1914-1918 gave the most that man can give Life itself For God, for King and country, for loved ones home and Empire, for the sacred cause of justice and the freedom of the world They buried him among the kings because he had done good toward God and toward His house
November 8, 2025 at 12:34 PM
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Astronomer Edmond Halley was born #onthisday in 1656.

He was the first to calculate the orbit of the comet which was later named after him. His memorial in the Abbey's cloisters is made from gilded slate and is in the form of a stylised comet.
A memorial to Edmon Halley on the wall of the cloisters of Westminster Abbey. The memorial is made of gilded slate and is in the shape of a stylised comet. It is inscribed with the words: Edmond Halley 1656 - 1742
November 8, 2025 at 9:37 AM
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Everyone is welcome in the Abbey at 5pm on Sunday for a recital by organist James Hicks. He'll be playing music by Northern European composers including Süda, Saari, Sixten, Karlsen and Haapalainen.

Find out more: www.westminster-abbey.org/worship-music/services-times/organ-recitals
A photograph of organ pipes, looking up towards the vaulted ceiling of the nave of Westminster Abbey
November 7, 2025 at 3:23 PM
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When the then Princess Elizabeth married Prince Philip here in the Abbey in 1947, the country was in the grip of post-war austerity. In a sign of the straitened times, the kneelers used by the bride and groom were made from orange boxes covered with rose damask.

#Museum30 #Box
A black and white photograph of the wedding of Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip in Westminster Abbey. The bride and groom stand at the High Altar, their backs to the camera, and are surrounded by clergy and members of the congregation. Church kneelers, upholstered in pink silk, in front of the High Altar of Westminster Abbey
November 7, 2025 at 12:31 PM