The name Westminster Abbey should ring loud and clear to almost anyone who travels. It is one of the biggest attractions (and biggest buildings) in London and is instantly recognisable.
If this is news to you, for background, Westminster Abbey, formally titled the Collegiate Church of Saint Peter at Westminster, is a large, mainly Gothic abbey church in the City of Westminster, London, England, just to the west of the Palace of Westminster. In addition to serving as a site for royal coronations and burials, Westminster Abbey has famously been the location for 17 royal weddings—including the 2011 marriage of Prince William to Catherine Middleton.
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But, did you know that there is an upstart / wannabe Westminster Abbey approximately 9 hours away by jet in Mission, British Columbia?
Westminster Abbey (North America) was founded in Ladner, BC from Mount Angel, a Benedictine abbey in Oregon. In 1939 the five original founding members of the monastery came not only to begin a new centre of monastic life but also to take over the teaching and administration of the diocesan seminary, then located in Ladner. Westminster Priory became independent in 1948 and in 1953 was raised to the status of an abbey. Westminster Abbey was established at its present site in 1954 after its temporary locations in Ladner and Burnaby. Read more here.
Why consider visiting? It is only one hour away from Vancouver out in a quiet part of British Columbia. The building is an impressive example of brutalism (in its own way) with an impressive concrete bell tower and stained glass windows that are truly bedazzling when the sun positions itself in the correct place. They also feature lovely musical events when the weather is good. Visitors can wander around the grounds, which eventually lead to a path that ends with an impressive cliff that looks out over the expansive Fraser Valley and Fraser River.
How can you say no? Click here to book your trip with us.
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