Westminster Abbey and Coronavirus (COVID-19)
The Abbey and St Margaret's Church are currently closed for general visiting but we remain open for worship and you are welcome to join us at our daily services.
The Abbey is also open for individual prayer from 10:30am - 12:30pm, Monday to Saturday.
Flag days
The two magnificent west towers, above the Great West Door, were the last major construction work to be carried out on the Abbey, constructed from Portland stone between 1722 and 1745 to a design by Nicholas Hawksmoor.
On top of the north tower sits a flag pole on which the Abbey flies flags - of the Commonwealth Nations, the Flag of St Peter, the Abbey Flag, the Union Flag, the Flags of the National Saints, the Royal Air Force Flag, and the Royal Standard.
The Flag of St Peter
Red with a pair of Golden Cross Keys, together with the Ring of St Edward the Confessor. This flag combines the symbols of the two Patron Saints of the Abbey: the ring of St Edward the Confessor, king of England 1043–1066 and founder of the Abbey in 1065; and the keys of St Peter, keeper of the keys to the kingdom of heaven, after whom the Abbey was named when it was re-founded as a Collegiate Church in 1579. It is flown on most Church Festivals, such as the feast of the Blessed Virgin Mary and Christmas Day.
The Abbey Flag
This bears the coat of arms of Westminster Abbey, and is flown during a State Visit on the day when the Head of State visits the Grave of The Unknown Warrior.
Other Flags
The Union Flag is flown on Remembrance Sunday.
The Flags of the National Saints; George, Andrew, and Patrick, are flown on their respective days, and the Welsh Dragon Flag is flown on St David's Day.
The Royal Air Force Flag is flown on the Commemoration of the Battle of Britain.
The Royal Standard is flown whenever the Sovereign is within the Abbey or its Precincts. It is also flown whenever the Sovereign opens Parliament, a privilege granted by King Edward VII.
A National Flag is flown on the day when the High Commission of a Commonwealth member state is represented at Evensong.
Flag day calendar
April
Friday, 23rd April 2021
St George
St George flag
May
Saturday, 1st May 2021
St Philip and St James
St Peter flag
Wednesday, 12th May 2021
Eve of the Ascension
St Peter flag
Thursday, 13th May 2021
Ascension Day
St Peter flag
Friday, 14th May 2021
St Mathias
St Peter flag
Tuesday, 18th May 2021
Foundation of the Order of the Bath
St Peter flag
Saturday, 22nd May 2021
Eve of Pentecost
St Peter flag
Sunday, 23rd May 2021
Pentecost
St Peter flag
Saturday, 29th May 2021
Eve of Trinity
St Peter flag
Sunday, 30th May 2021
Trinity Sunday
St Peter flag
Monday, 31st May 2021
The Visitation of Our Lady to St Elizabeth
St Peter flag
June
Wednesday, 2nd June 2021
Coronation Day [1953]
St Peter flag
Thursday, 3rd June 2021
Corpus Christi
St Peter flag
Friday, 11th June 2021
St Barnabas
St Peter flag
Thursday, 24th June 2021
The Birth of St John The Baptist
St Peter flag
Monday, 28th June 2021
Eve of St Peter
St Peter flag
Tuesday, 29th June 2021
St Peter
St Peter flag
July
Saturday, 3rd July 2021
St Thomas
St Peter flag
Monday, 12th July 2021
St Benedict
St Peter flag
Tuesday, 20th July 2021
St Margaret
St Peter flag
Thursday, 22nd July 2021
St Mary Magdalene
St Peter flag
Monday, 26th July 2021
St James
St Peter flag
August
Friday, 6th August 2021
The Transfiguration of Our Lord
St Peter flag
Sunday, 15th August 2021
Eve of The Feast of the Blessed Virgin Mary
St Peter flag
Monday, 16th August 2021
The Feast of the Blessed Virgin Mary
St Peter flag
SHARE
It’s a privilege to live and work here – the Abbey really is the heart of the country and its history.
