Card of the Day: The Jerusalem Chamber at Westminster Abbey

The principal room, of the Medieval House of the Abbots at Westminster Abbey, the Jerusalem Chamber was added by Nicholas Litlyngton who was the Abbot of Westminster from 1362-86. There’s some debate about the origins of the room’s name, however it was not unusual in the Middle Ages to assign names to rooms. Other rooms at the Abbey have similar names such as Jericho and Samaria.

This room has been the scene of many historic meetings including: the committees dedicated to writing the Authorized Version of the Bible in 1611, a similar meeting to write the Revised Version in 1870, and the New English Bible in 1961 and the Revised English Bible in 1989. IT has also been the location for the laying out of the bodies of many important figures and has hosted numerous Royal events.

The room is commemorated in the Churchman Cigarette Company’s 1935 Silver Jubilee Series since it is, during coronation ceremonies, the temporary (heavily-guarded) storehouse for the crown jewels and Royal regalia which are used during the ceremony.