Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1878-Present (Creation)
Level of description
Series
Extent and medium
14 archival boxes
Context area
Name of creator
Repository
Archival history
The origins of Westminster School can be traced back to a charity school established by the Benedictine monks of Westminster Abbey, who would educate local children. An exact founding date is not clear but the continuous existence of a school at the Abbey is certain from the early fourteenth century. After the dissolution of the monasteries in 1540, Henry VIII personally ensured the School’s survival by statute. The link between the Abbey and the School continued beyond this, with the two joined as one collegiate foundation until the 1868 Public School’s Act. To this day the Abbey still functions as the School’s chapel, with pupils attending weekly services and annual concerts and services held there throughout the year.
Content and structure area
Scope and content
This collection contains a variety of material relating to the School’s religious services, primarily focused on Westminster Abbey. There are orders of service from the annual School services held at the Abbey, as well as further material from Abbey events that were often attended by the School, although did not feature it in any prominent way. Finally there is a subsection for Funerals and Memorials, containing orders of service for people related to the School or the Abbey. Many, but not all, of these services were held in Westminster Abbey.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
System of arrangement
This material has been arranged into three subseries- School services, Abbey events, and Funerals and Memorials. Westminster Abbey documents relating to the biannual Commemoration of Benefactors and the annual Election service are held in the EVE series, under their respective events.
Further Westminster Abbey material is also kept by the Abbey itself - https://www.westminster-abbey.org/about-the-abbey/library-research.
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
Access to collection items is granted to bona-fide researchers, by prior appointment, subject to the overriding provisions of relevant legislation, including Data Protection.
Conditions governing reproduction
A reprographics service is available to researchers subject to the access restrictions outlined above. Copying will not be undertaken if there is any risk of damage to the item. Copies are supplied in accordance with Westminster School's Policy on Archive and Heritage Collections, and under provisions of any relevant copyright legislation. Permission to reproduce images of items in the custody of Westminster School must be sought from its Governing Body.
Language of material
- English
Script of material
- Latin