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£23m ‘crown’ for Westminster Abbey for Queen’s 60th
Martin Bentham and Aline Nassif29 Jun 2009
Plans were unveiled today to build a “crown” structure on top of Westminster Abbey.
Under the proposals, which would be the first significant construction at the Abbey for 250 years, the feature, officially known as a corona, would be created above the central crossing by 2013 — in time for the 60th anniversary of the Queen's coronation.
The design and size of the new structure will be decided, if there is sufficient public support, after a competition between architects.
It could, however, involve some modern design features and could also incorporate a small tower that will further raise the Abbey's profile on the capital's skyline which could prove contentious. Announcing the plans today, the Dean of Westminster, the Very Rev Dr John Hall, said he believed the change would enhance the Abbey, but conceded that the idea would be contentious.
“It's extremely exciting. It's the first major development here for a long time,” he said. “There will of course be some people who say don't change our skyline after all this time' and how dare you tamper with this great beautiful work we know and love'.
“But we're hoping to demonstrate to people how the Abbey has scarcely stood still in its long history.”
The Dean said the Gothic corona of St Giles' Cathedral in Edinburgh was an example that could influence the design, while Abbey officials cited York Minster and Ely as other historic churches with a similar feature.
But architect Farshid Moussavi, the co-founder of Foreign Office Architects — the practice appointed last year to oversee the redevelopment of Euston Station — suggested that something more original should be installed on top of the Abbey.
She said: “It would be a mistake to simply replicate the Edinburgh crown. While it is possible to reuse ideas from older periods, it is important to develop them so that you are producing new and relevant ideas.
“I think it's a wonderful idea to add to the cathedral because the principle of cathedrals is that they are constantly evolving and expanding.”
Today's proposals form part of a £23 million project that would also result in the Abbey's upper gallery being opened to the public for the first time. A museum housing many historic artefacts that are currently not on display would be placed there.
The Queen has been briefed on the project, as has the Prince of Wales.
Reader views (6)
This is a total waste of money - a solution in search of a problem.
And the idea of a crown sounds weird to me - won't it make the abbey resemble a mosque? That would be an irony. Unless of course it is intended to? Political correctness continuing to go mad?
If not a mosque then maybe the Kremlin in Moscow?
I am hugely sceptical about the whole project.
- Andy Marshall, Chichester UK, 08/07/2009 14:54
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What a silly idea. As pointless as a giant plastic replica of Michael Jackson. Also a total waste of money.
Isn't there something wrong with an organisation - ie. Church of England - which rightly begs money for charitable causes - famine relief, AIDS, the elderly etc. etc, - then spends millions on a pointless lump of architecture, of no real benefit to anyone?
Shaven head,sack-cloth and ashes, begging bowl in hand, the Dean should go on a very long pilgrimage to a series of very far and distant lands.
- Trebor John, London, UK, 30/06/2009 10:21
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I think the Queen has got enough crowns and castles to do her at the moment. Spending £26 million is frankly obscene.
- Alan Hogg, Symington, Scotland, 30/06/2009 01:25
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It's about time the thing was finished! It would be nice to see a flamboyant piece of architecture up there rather than that miserable looking little stump.
- Piers Walace, London, 29/06/2009 14:51
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Good idea BUT not sure about the price!
- Tony Islander, Herts, 29/06/2009 14:39
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The tower is supposed to be low. It's supported on very slim piers which allow maximum viewing of coronations for crowds inside the building. It's expressed this unique function of the abbey for over seven hundred years. Does it need emphasis? Other cathedrals have low crossing towers (e.g. Winchester), or none (e.g. Exeter). Putting a crown on the top (itself more a Scottish than English tradition) serves only to articulate the vanity of attention-calling on behalf of a monument that doesn't need it- hopefully sense will prevail.
- Jonathan Foyle, London, UK, 29/06/2009 13:48
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