Eight centuries after Henry III transformed Westminster Abbey into the iconic gothic structure it is today, Queen Camilla has laid the cornerstone for a new building that will occupy the medieval site of a long-gone sacristy.
The new King Charles III sacristy is set to provide modern facilities for welcoming, ticketing, and security at the abbey.
Construction has commenced following archaeological digs conducted in 2020 at the location, which previously served as a burial site before the original sacristy was built, as well as during the 18th century, when human remains of “hundreds if not thousands of people” were discovered.
As the patron of the new sacristy, Camilla expressed her happiness, stating, “I’m thrilled to unveil this foundation stone. It’s hard to believe that the last time I was here, the site was filled with skeletons, and now there’s a floor.”
She added, “I sincerely hope my husband and I will return in 2026 to inaugurate the King Charles III sacristy, God willing.”
Set to cost £13 million, the new facility will enable visitors to enter the abbey through the grand west door, replacing the north door, and granting access via the entrance traditionally used for royal weddings, funerals, and coronations over the centuries.
This will provide the public with a chance to appreciate the magnificence of the abbey’s interior in a manner that Dean of Westminster, Dr. David Hoyle, described as “transformational.”
The single-story structure, crafted from English stone, oak, and lead, will be situated next to the abbey and designed by Ptolemy Dean, the abbey’s fabric surveyor. He noted that it would echo the style of the original building that existed before the monastery’s dissolution in 1540, when the sacristy was converted for residential use and eventually fell into disrepair before being demolished.
Construction of the abbey was initiated by Edward the Confessor in 1042 on the grounds of a monastery and later rebuilt by Henry III between 1220 and 1272. The first great sacristy was constructed in the 1250s and remains the only portion of Henry III’s church that has been lost. This space was once utilized by monks to store vestments, chalices, and other sacred items.
During the 2020 excavation, notable discoveries included a stoup or basin likely used by monks for hand-washing upon entry, a lead pipe that supplied water to the monastery, and pieces of medieval painted plaster depicting red, white, and black floral designs, indicating that the great sacristy was ornately decorated.
The £13 million financing is being supported by donations, with hopes that the building will be completed by the end of next year, thereby freeing up space in the north transept.
