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St. Peter's Cathedral, or Westminster Abby

SOURCE: REMARKS ON LONDON, being an Exact Survey of the Cities of London and Westminster, Borough of Southwark... By W. Stow., London, 1722.

A List of all the Cathedrals, Churches, and Chapels of Ease within the Bill of Mortality, withal shewing therein the sett Times of publick Prayers, receiving the Sacrament, and hearing Sermons both Ordinary and Extraordinary.

Note, Pr. signifies Prayers, Sac. Sacrament;
S. Sermon; and Lect. Lecturer.

St. Peter's Cathedral, or Westminster Abby, from its westerly Situation from London, dedicated to St. Peter the Apostle. It is equal in Antiquity to any Church, abroad or at home, and inferior to none in the World for Stateliness and other Rarities, being a piece of admirable Architecture, and most rare Workmanship, both without and within; beautified to the Admiration of all Beholders, with the most magnificent and curious Tombs of many Kings and Queens, the Nobles and most famous Worthies of England. King Lucius built a Christian Church here, about the Year 170, which was destroyed about 130 Years after that, in the Time of Dioclesian's grevious Persecution, whereby Pagan Superstition so much prevailed again, that a Temple to Apollo was built upon the Ruins of that. In the Time of of AntoninusPius the Roman Emporer, a dreadful Earthquake threw down the old Profanum, and then this Plot of Ground lying waste 3 or 400 Years, was over-run with Water, and overgrown with Thorns, and was called by our Ancestors, the Isle of Thorney, where, upon this Foundation, Sebert, the first Christian King of the East Saxons, about the Year 610, built another Church, which about 659 was destroyed by the Danes. About the Year 960, King Edgar rebuilt it again. Afterwards King Edward the Confessor founded and enlarged that small decayed Monastry, and made it the Repository of the Regalia; but 156 Years after him, King Henry the Third took dowm the old Fabrick, and rebuilt it from the Ground, with that Rare Architecture as it now stands. Morning Pr. daily at 6 in the Summer, 7 in the Winter; again on all Week Days at 10, but on all Sundays and Holy days, at 9; Evening Pr. at 4, on Sundays half and hour after 3; S. on all Sundays, Ash Wednesday, Wednesdays and Fridays through Lent at 9; a publick S. before the House of Lords on Jan. 30 May. 29 Nov. 25. and other solemn Ocassions during the Time of Parliament. But above all other Solemnities, is that most celebrated and august Assembly of the Nobility, at the Coronation of the Kings and Queens of England, before whom is preached and Inauguration Sermon.