Visit St. Paul's Cathedral London
Christopher Wren, Fire of London, American Chapel,Whispering Gallery
May 3, 2007
St. Paul's Cathedral - Symbol of the City
St. Paul's Cathedral is the real symbol of the resurrection of the City of London after the ravages of the Great Fire in 1666. It is the fifth church dedicated to London's patron saint to be be built on this spot. The first St. Paul's was wooden, founded by King Ethelbert of Kent in the 6th century. Four more churches were built on the same spot and suffered various fates, including destruction by the Vikings in the 7th century and being struck by lightening. The last one was destroyed by the Great Fire of London in 1666.
St. Paul's Cathedral - Christopher Wren
Then, along came the brilliant young architect, Christopher Wren who was commissioned to rescue the decaying pile that was left. Before he built his masterpiece in 1708, St. Paul's had been so badly neglected that it was mainly used by prostitutes and drunks. Tradesmen put up their stalls in its aisles and one early report says archers practised their skills by shooting roosting pigeons.
This was the fifth cathedral to be built on a site where, according to tradition and to evidence discovered after the Great Fire, on this same spot there once stood a Roman temple dedicated to Diana the goddess of hunting. It's ironic that close to two thousand years later a modern day 'goddess' named Diana (Princess of Wales) would be be one of the most hunted women of her time.
Wren went on to create much of the city skyscape we see today. Fifty of the seventy buildings he created in and around London are still standing. In 1708 his son put the last stone on the dome of what still is the second largest cathedral in the world.
St. Paul's Cathedral - Ghostly Hauntings
The memorial chapel to Lord Kitchener, a somewhat ruthless army general in the late 1800's, contains a secret door leading up to the dome. This was discovered as a result of a ghost who was supposed to haunt the chapel, who usually disappeared through a particular wall. When the chapel was being renovated this part of the wall was excavated to reveal the door. The story goes that the ghost has never been seen since.
St. Paul's Cathedral - The London Blitz
During World War II, St. Paul's, although it would seem difficult to miss it, was comparatively unharmed. In one night alone, just after Christmas 1940, 28 bombs fell. One crashed through to the crypt, while another destroyed the Victorian High Altar. The former Jesus Chapel behind the High Altar, damaged in 1940, has been restored and refurnished as the American Chapel, a tribute to the 28.000 American citizens based in the UK who lost their lives in World War II. One of the best times to visit is early morning. Candle-lit evensong is also magical, but avoid if possible the afternoons when coachloads of visitors arrive.
St. Paul's Cathedral - Stairs and Galleries
Another lovely thing to do (if you are fit enough) is to climb the 530 steps to the top of the Dome. The first, relatively easy, part takes you to the Whispering Gallery where you can whisper something against the wall and you'll be heard 112 feet/34 metres away on the other side.
Next stop is the Stone Gallery where telescopes are placed to give you a great view of the whole place. The last leg takes you up narrow stairs to the Golden Gallery - from which you get a fabulous view of London. This view was used for spotting fires all over the City during the blitz in World War II.
St. Paul's Cathedral - Take Time to Explore
Christopher Wren lived to see his masterpiece nearly complete. He is, appropriately, buried in his Cathedral, and the tablet above his grave reads (in Latin): "Reader, if you would seek his monument, look around you". Good advice!
Explore London's landmarks from the top of a red double-decker bus - Take the No.15 bus!
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