Who was removed from Westminster Abbey?

Oliver Cromwell's head In 1659 Richard Cromwell gave up power, and Charles II was restored as King of England – this was known as the restoration. Charles decreed that Cromwell be disinterred from Westminster Abbey, and that he be 'executed' – despite already being dead – for regicide.



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When Charles II was restored to the throne the House of Commons voted on 4th December 1660 that the coffins of regicides Oliver Cromwell, Henry Ireton and John Bradshaw should be dug up from the Abbey, drawn on a hurdle to Tyburn and the bodies hung up on the gallows there.

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The official reason for Cromwell's death and the actual reason were not the same. Officially, Cromwell was put to death for heresy, corruption, and treason. In reality, Henry VIII had him executed because he felt betrayed when Cromwell encouraged him to marry Anne of Cleves.

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King George II was the recipient in 1760, and his body lies in the Hanoverian burial vault under the central aisle of the Lady Chapel in Westminster Abbey beside his queen Caroline. The Hanoverian King, who died aged 76, was also the last monarch to be buried at the Abbey.

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Cromwell was a Puritan. Puritans were Protestants who wanted to purify the Church of England of Roman Catholic practices. They believed that the Church of England was too similar to the Roman Catholic Church, and that the reformation was not complete until it became more protestant.

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