What is the difference between the Westminster Abbey and the cathedral?

Westminster Abbey is an Anglican Church. Westminster Cathedral is a Roman Catholic Church, situated about 400 m (437 yd) west of the Abbey. The Cathedral site was reclaimed by the Benedictine monks who were the builders of Westminster Abbey and used as a market.



The primary difference between Westminster Abbey and Westminster Cathedral lies in their denomination, history, and architectural style. Westminster Abbey is a Church of England (Anglican) building and a "Royal Peculiar," meaning it is under the direct jurisdiction of the Monarch. It is a Gothic masterpiece that has been the coronation church for English monarchs since 1066 and is the final resting place of 17 kings and queens, as well as famous figures like Isaac Newton and Charles Darwin. In contrast, Westminster Cathedral is the mother church of the Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales. Located about a 15-minute walk away, it was completed in 1903 and is built in a distinctive Neo-Byzantine style featuring red brick and white stone stripes with a massive campanile (bell tower). While the Abbey is famous for its royal weddings and historical gravitas, the Cathedral is known for its stunning interior mosaics and world-class choral tradition. Visitors often confuse the two, but a quick look at the architecture—Gothic spires for the Abbey vs. a domed, striped tower for the Cathedral—will instantly tell them apart.

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An abbey is a monastery wherein which monks and/or nuns live, work, and worship. The word abbey derives from the Latin word which means father, abbatia. Most abbeys are comprised of various buildings used by the inhabitants. A cathedral is a principal church of a regional diocese and is a place where people worship.

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Although it is named Westminster Abbey, the church isn't officially an abbey. It falls into the category of 'Royal Peculiar' because instead of belonging to the Church of England, it belongs to the Sovereign. Its official name is the Collegiate Church of St. Peter.

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Westminster Abbey is perhaps the most famous church in the UK noted for its royal weddings, coronations, and burials. With a long and varied history, the Abbey has functioned as a working religious site for nearly 1000 years. What began as Benedictine Monastery, has become one of the most popular London attractions.

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Around 3,330 people are buried at the abbey, among them some of the great figures of British history. They include Charles Dickens, Geoffrey Chaucer, Samuel Johnson, Rudyard Kipling, Alfred Tennyson, Henry Purcell, William Wilberforce, Laurence Olivier, Thomas Hardy and eight prime ministers.

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