April 1, 2003 - page 3

The abbey was founded in 1065 by St. Edward the Confessor, and every monarch since then (with only two exceptions) has been crowned there. In the chapel devoted to St. Edward, in fact, one can see the very chair used at coronations since 1301. The initials and Roman numerals carved at various spots make plain that the Coronation Chair has its share of stories to tell.

Quite a few of these monarchs were later laid to rest there as well, including St. Edward himself, Elizabeth I, and Mary, Queen of Scots. Visiting a gravesite is always a sobering experience, but seeing such reminders of figures who so directly shaped our history really makes one stop and think. The burial sites of Chaucer and Handel prompt the same sort of reflection. As does the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior, containing the remains of a representative World War I casualty; surrounded by red roses, it’s the only tomb in the church that nobody, clergy included, ever walks across.

As promised, I’ve included a few snapshots from our group’s various spring-break excursions. Best to let those photos speak for themselves.