The Collegiate Church of St. Peter at Westminster
"Westminster Abbey"
"Westminster Abbey"
The Chapel of St. Nicholas
Image Courtesy: Wikipedia
A Procession of the Knights of Bath
Artist: Canaletto (1749)
Now, one might ask, what does Westminster Abbey - so greatly in the news these days because of the marriage of Prince William - have to do with churches dedicated to Nicholas of Myra?
Well, until I received the following comment from Ray at Troutbider, I would have answered, "I really don't know."
"So I'm in the middle of Margaret George's wonderful new piece of historical fiction.... Elizabeth I. She (the Queen) is in the midst of another great crises and moving slowly thru Westminster she reflects on the family chapels there, comes to St. Nicholas chapel and..... my thoughts [Ray's]are immediately transfered here [St. Nicholas blog!], wondering if you've posted of it. :)"
Image courtesy: Pitts Theology Library
There are many chapels located within the abbey dedicated to various Christians with Nicholas of Myra being just one of them. This chapel is located on the south side, at the east end of this magnificent and historic Gothic edifice. It is just across from St. Paul's chapel and just after the Shrine of St. Edward the Confessor - the monk-king who was the first to start building this abbey in 1055 as a Benedictine Monastery. (Although an earlier Saxon church is to have occupied the site - founded by the Bishop of London, Mellitus, who died in 624. A fisherman was said to have seen a vision of St. Peter here... hence it's actual name!)
Floor plan of Westminster Abbey
Image courtesy: Wikipeda
The Chapel of St. Nicholas is located in the cross part - across the center aisle.
(In the curve straight up from the "m" in "image.")
(In the curve straight up from the "m" in "image.")
So, in a round about way, by having this chapel dedicated to Nicholas of Myra in this historic building, St. Nicholas has played a role in much of British history. Not only are many people of note buried in this building but it is, among many other things, the site of the writing of part of the King James Bible, the coronation of British monarchs since 1066, and of course, the site of numerous weddings.
Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Phillip on their Wedding Day
November 20, 1947
Leaving Westminster Abbey
Image courtesy: Washington Post
Author: Sarah Anne Hughes
And... a little over a week ago, this photo was taken outside of the Abbey.
April 21, 2011
Image courtesy: Washington Post
Author: Sarah Anne Hughes
The occasion? The lovely and gracious Queen Elizabeth II's 85th birthday and Royal Maundy Service (the Thursday before Easter) at the Abbey.
Here's to wishing the latest couple to be wed within this historic building - and within site of the Chapel of St. Nicholas - a marriage and life as successful as that of the grooms famous grandparents!
And many many thanks to Ray for telling me about the St. Nicholas Chapel! By the by, Ray has two fabulous blogs, troutbirder and troutbirder II- he is an extremely talented writer - and is blessed to have one of the most beautiful German Shepherds - named Baron - sharing his interesting life with him!
Here's to wishing the latest couple to be wed within this historic building - and within site of the Chapel of St. Nicholas - a marriage and life as successful as that of the grooms famous grandparents!
And many many thanks to Ray for telling me about the St. Nicholas Chapel! By the by, Ray has two fabulous blogs, troutbirder and troutbirder II- he is an extremely talented writer - and is blessed to have one of the most beautiful German Shepherds - named Baron - sharing his interesting life with him!
