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William Fox (acting) St Paul's Cathedral 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 ...
The original St. Paul's Cathedral was built in 604 AD by the Bishop of London, Mellitus, but it was destroyed by fire in 1087. The new cathedral was commissioned by William the Conqueror and work began on the building in the late 11th century. It took over 200 years to complete, with the first stage of construction finishing in 1240.
The fourth cathedral, now known as Old St. Paul’s, was constructed of Caen stone beginning in the late 11th century. It was one of the more massive buildings in the British Isles at that time, and its spire stood higher than the dome of the present cathedral. During the English Reformation (16th century) the edifice fell into disrepair, and ...
- The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
- History of St Paul’s Cathedral
- St Paul’s Cathedral Today
- Getting to St Paul’s Cathedral
The current building of St Paul’s Cathedral was built between 1675 and 1710, designed in the English Baroque style by Sir Christopher Wren. Its construction was part of a major rebuilding programme in the City after the Great Fire of London. However the site on which it sits has been home to cathedrals since 604 AD. In fact, the St Paul’s Cathedral...
Whilst one of London’s most popular tourist attractions, the cathedral remains a working church with hourly prayer and daily services. There are many different parts of the Cathedral for visitors to discover, from the underground Crypt (containing famous tombs along with a 270° film experience – ‘the Oculus: an eye into St Paul’s’ – that brings 1,4...
As with all London sites, it’s best to travel by public transport. The nearest tube stations are St Paul’s (a 2 minute walk, Central Line), Mansion House or Blackfriars (District/Circle Lines) or Bank (Central, Northern and Waterloo & City Lines). The nearest rail stations are City Thameslink (3 minutes walk), Blackfriars, Cannon Street or Liverpoo...
- Amy Irvine
We have a number of sightseeing tickets available, with discounts for children, students, seniors over 65, and families. By booking online, you can also reserve a guidebook and a place on one of our expert-led tours. From our consecration to 21st century, chart the history of St Paul's and see which events – and people – helped create the ...
On Christmas Eve 1924 St Paul’s was served with a Dangerous Structures notice and was later closed for public safety. This display in the Crypt of St Paul’s recounts the extraordinary and little-known story of how the Cathedral moved and cracked, causing masonry to fall and smash in the Nave, testing the limits of the structure and relations with the City of London building authorities.
In 2010, the Dean and Chapter of St Paul's opened St Paul's Oculus, a 270° film experience that brings 1400 years of history to life. Located in the former Treasury in the crypt, the film takes visitors on a journey through the history and daily life of St Paul's Cathedral.
