LONDON SAINT PAULS CATHEDRAL 10 - INSIDE VIEWS 6

A VIBRANT CHURCH, A NATIONAL TREASURE AND AN ICON OF LONDON
St Paul's Cathedral-formally titled the Cathedral Church of St Paul the Apostle is an Anglican cathedral in London, England, the seat of the Bishop of London
The cathedral serves as the mother church of the Diocese of London
It is on Ludgate Hill at the highest point of the City of London. Its dedication in honour of Paul the Apostle dates back to the original church on this site, founded in AD 604
The present structure, which was completed in 1710, is a Grade I listed building that was designed in the English Baroque style by Sir Christopher Wren. More than 50 city churches are attributable to Wren
CONSECRATION
On 2 December 1697-31 years and 3 months after the Great Fire destroyed Old St Paul's, the new cathedral was consecrated for use
WAR DAMAGE
The cathedral survived the Blitz although struck by bombs many times
ROYAL WEDDING
On 29 July 1981, the wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer was held at the cathedral
The couple selected St Paul's over Westminster Abbey, the traditional site of royal weddings, because the cathedral offered more seating
MINISTRY AND FUNCTIONS
St Paul's Cathedral is a busy church with four or five services every day
From royal weddings and state funerals to famous burials and more, St Paul’s Cathedral has played a major role in London’s history
St PAUL’s CATHEDRAL HOSTORY
Situated near the River Thames, St Paul’s Cathedral is one of London’s most iconic buildings
Sir Christopher Wren, one of Britain’s famed architects, designed the cathedral as part of a major rebuilding of the City after the 1666 Great Fire of London
The present St Paul’s Cathedral was built between 1675 and 1710 and is one of London’s most popular places of interest
Sitting on the highest point of the City of London, St Paul’s Cathedral has frequently been at the centre of national events throughout history from its consecration and surviving the Blitz to state funerals, royal weddings and more
Step inside and discover the cathedral’s spectacular interiors, architectural design, and breath-taking panoramic views across London from the Stone and Golden Galleries
THE NAVE
The Cathedral’s Nave provides a stunning view of the full length of the cathedral, leading down to The Dome
Here you will also find a monument to one of Britain’s most celebrated historical figures, the Duke of Wellington. Completed in 1912, it depicts the duke sitting on horseback and is the cathedral’s largest monument
THE DOME
Inspired by St Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City, St Paul’s Dome is the SECOND-LARGEST CATHEDRAL DOME in the world
Its painted interiors by Sir James Thornhill show eight scenes from the life of St Paul and is a truly stunning sight
One can climb 376 steps to the Stone Gallery and a further 152 to the Golden Gallery, both on the outside of The Dome
THE HGH ALTAR
The current altar, made of marble as well as carved and gilded oak, replaced the previous Victorian marble altar
The original was damaged during the Second World War in a bomb strike that destroyed a large part of the east end of the cathedral
THE GRAND ORGAN
Built and installed in 1695-the Grand Organ is one of the cathedral’s most exceptional artefacts after undergoing several restorations over the centuries. It has 7256 pipes, five manuals (keyboards), 136 ranks of pipes and 137 organ stops
St Paul's Cathedral has a full professional choir
THE CRYPT
St Paul’s Crypt extends the entire length of the building and houses over 200 monuments including the tombs of British historical figures such as Admiral Lord Nelson, Arthur Wellesley Duke of Wellington, scientist Alexander Fleming and the architect of St Paul’s Sir Christopher Wren
The crypt is the largest in Europe, under the entire building rather than just under the eastern end
ART
St Paul’s is home to a spectacular array of art - from the delicate carvings of Grinling Gibbons in the quire to Sir James Thornhill's gilded dome murals. Modern works created by many decorated artists, including Yoko Ono and Antony Gormley, enrich the daily pattern of worship in the Cathedral
Style English Baroque
Years built
1675-1710
Groundbreaking
1675
Completed
1710
SPECIFICATIONS
Length
518 ft (158 m)
Nave width
121 ft (37 m)
Width across transepts
246 ft (75 m)
Height
365 ft (111 m) -1 year
Dome height (outer) 278 ft (85 m)
Dome height (inner) 225 ft (69 m)
Dome diameter (outer) 112 ft (34 m)
Dome diameter (inner) 102 ft (31 m)
Number of towers 2
Tower height 221 ft (67 m)
Internally, St Paul's has a nave and choir in each of its three bays
and contains many bells
The size and location of St Paul's has made it an ideal setting for Christian services marking great national events