Westminster Abbey: Notable Burials

Westminster Abbey, one of the most notable religious buildings ever constructed in the United Kingdom, was built in 1245 under the urging of King Henry III. The church possesses a diverse history that even strays from its primary use as a place of worship, especially during the Renaissance. While the English did not forego utilizing the church in it’s traditional manner, burials also took place on the property as well.

 
Westminster Abbey provided final resting places for monarchs and other important figures, to which our tour guide described as those adding to the richness of the history of England. Among the monarchs buried here during the Renaissance were Henry VII, Edward VI, Anne of Cleves, Henry VII, Queen Elizabeth, Mary (Queen of Scots), James I, Charles II, and Mary II.

Thus, I would like to address when, possibly how, and descriptions of these burials for further clarification. So, I guess it is best to begin chronologically:

Henry VII died at the beginning of the Renaissance in 1509. Henry’s foundation stone was laid at the Lady Chapel at the east end in 1503, before his passing. He and his wife, Elizabeth of York, share a tomb. The historians at Westminster note that, “The gilt bronze effigies can be seen through the fine grille which surrounds the tomb. The heads of the effigies carried at their respective funerals still survive and can be seen in the Abbey Museum, that of the king being from a death mask” (Westminster).

Edward VI was buried beneath the original altar of Henry VII’s Lady Chapel after he died of tuberculosis in 1553. The Westminster history recalls that “the burial service from the English Prayer Book was used for the first time at the funeral of a monarch” (Westminster).

Anne of Cleves, who was Henry VIII’s fourth wife died on July 18, 1557 and according to the historians at Westminster “the funeral was conducted according to Catholic rites as Ann had wanted” (Westminster). After the ceremony, she was buried at the south side of the High Altar.

 

The fifth child of Henry VII, Mary Tudor, died in 1558. She was buried in the North Aisle of Henry VII’s Chapel where her wooden effigy can be displayed in the Abbey Museum.

The incredibly notable Queen Elizabeth I was laid to rest on April 28, 1603 where thousands viewed her procession. Elizabeth was the final monarch in the Abbey to have a monument erected above her.

Mary, Queen of Scots, was executed in February of 1587. While she was first buried in Peterborough Cathedral, James I brought her remains back to Westminster in 1612. Her tomb is among the one’s that most stood out to me. This was obviously the impression it was supposed to give. Westminster history states, “[James I] had erected a magnificent marble tomb for her in the south aisle of the Lady Chapel on which there is a fine white marble effigy under an elaborate canopy” (Westminster).

James I died in March of 1625, with his funeral taking placing nearly a month later. His remains are in the vault beneath Henry VII’s monument with a simple inscription marking his grave.

Charles II died on February 6, 1685 and was buried in the south aisle of Henry VII’s chapel. While no monument was erected for Charles, a life-size effigy was placed by his grave for over a century.

Lastly, Mary II (the eldest daughter of James, Duke of York) died from smallpox in 1694. Though a monument was designed for her, it was never erected. However, she is buried in a vault in the south aisle of Henry VII’s chapel.