Perhaps you’ve noticed the dome. It dominates the London skyline. We are standing before St Paul’s Cathedral. It is more than just a building. It is a symbol of London’s resilience.
For over 1400 years a church dedicated to St Paul has stood here. This is the highest point in the City of London. The first three churches burned down. Sir Christopher Wren masterminded the current structure. It has remained almost intact for nearly 400 years.
St Paul’s is the seat of the Bishop of London. It is the mother church of the Diocese of London. This Grade I listed national treasure has been at the center of British religious and architectural history since its foundation.
Let’s delve into some fascinating facts about St Paul’s Cathedral. Great Paul is one of the largest bells ever cast in the British Isles. It weighs 16.5 tons. Sadly, it is no longer used because its chiming mechanism is broken.
St Paul’s even has a designer apparel collection. It is exclusively for members of the Order of the British Empire. You need an OBE MBE BEM GBE KBE DBE or CBE at the end of your name to purchase from the shop. Proceeds go towards the maintenance of the Order’s Chapel.
The steps of St Paul’s Cathedral were used in the Disney classic Mary Poppins. The Dean’s staircase was used to film scenes for the Harry Potter films.
In 2016, a massive dragon head was placed outside St Paul’s. It was a marketing stunt by Visit Wales.
Photography is prohibited inside St Paul’s. There are panoramic views from the Golden Gallery. You must climb 528 steps. You can see the London Eye the Shard and Windsor Castle on a clear day.
Martin Luther King Jr once read a sermon at St Paul’s. Canon John Collins invited him in 1964. He spoke to a congregation of over 4000 people.
Admiral Lord Nelson is buried in the crypt. Millions lined the streets of London for his service. Other famous tombs include Sir Christopher Wren John Donne and the Duke of Wellington.
From 1710 to 1965 St Paul’s was the tallest building in London. It is now the 53rd tallest building in the capital. It remains the tallest place of worship in London.
In 1913, suffragettes planted a bomb underneath the Bishop’s Throne. They wanted to raise awareness of equal voting rights. Luckily, it failed to detonate.
The St Paul’s Watch was the Cathedral’s personal fire brigade. It was set up during World War One. It was reinstated before the Blitz. Over 300 volunteers watched and protected the Cathedral during the war.
The effigy of John Donne survived the Great Fire. He was the Dean of St Paul’s Cathedral from 1621-1631. The sculpture shows him wrapped in a burial shroud.
Henry Moore carved the sculpture ‘Mother and Child: Hood’ for St Paul’s. It was his final large scale work.
The American Memorial Chapel commemorates 28000 Americans who died during the war. A 1950s style space rocket is hidden in one of the panels. It is a nod to America’s contributions to space exploration.
William Holman Hunt’s painting ‘The Light of the World’ is in the Cathedral. It went on a world tour. It was seen by millions.
The tomb of Admiral Horatio Nelson was originally commissioned for Cardinal Wolsey. King Henry VIII wanted it for himself. King George III presented it to hold Nelson’s remains.
Sir Christopher Wren’s tomb is in the crypt. The epitaph says if you seek his monument look around you.
St Paul’s Cathedral stands as a testament to London’s history. It embodies art architecture and faith. It also embodies resilience. It has survived fires bombings and the test of time. Take a moment to appreciate the details. They whisper stories of the past.