Westminster Abbey or the Collegiate Church of St Peter, Middlesex Genealogy

England   Middlesex   Middlesex Parishes

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Parish History
Westminster Abbey or the Collegiate Church of St Peter, Westminster, the church of, is situated on the western side of Westminster Hall. The origin and dedication of this ancient abbey is involved in much obsureity and fabuouls legend. The most credible account is, that it was founded by Sebert King of the East Saxons, who died in 616.

This church and its monastery were afterwards repaired and enlarged by Offa, King Mercia, but being destroyed by the Danes, they were rebuilt by King Edagr, who endowed them with lands and manors, and in 969 granted them many privileges. Being again ravaged by the Danes, they were rebuilt by Edward the Confessor, in a magnificent manner, and in the form of a cross. The works being finished in 1065...

William the Norman ["Conqueror"] embellished the church, and made it many handsome presents; and at the Christmas following his assumption of the Crown of England, he was solemnly crowned therein, this being the first coronation performed within its walls. The next prince who improved this national bulding was Henry III, who added to, and much repaired it. These repairs were completed by his successor in 1285, which is the date of the building as it now stands.

About 1502 King Henry VII began the splendid chapel that is called by his name...

At the time of the suppression of the religious houses, the Abbey was surrendered to Henry VIII, who dissolved it, and erected it into a college of secular canons. under the governemnt of a dean. Mary restored it to its original conventical state, and Queen Elizabeth finally erected the Abbey into a acollege as at present. The western towers were built by Sir Christopher Wren, and many subsequent repairs and embellishments have been executed by our various monarchs.

From from: Topographical Dictionary of London by James Elmes; published 1831.

Civil Registration
Birth, marriages and deaths were kept by the government, from July 1837 to the present day. The civil registration article tells more about these records. There are several Internet sites with name lists or indexes. A popular site is FreeBMD.

Church records
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Census records
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Probate records
Records of wills, administrations, inventories, indexes, etc. were filed by the court with jurisdiction over this parish. Go to Middlesex Probate Records to find the name of the court having primary jurisdiction. Scroll down in the article to the section Court Jurisdictions by Parish.

Maps and Gazetteers
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 * England Jurisdictions 1851
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Web sites
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