Old St Paul's Cathedral facts for kids

The Cathedral, as it would have appeared in 1561.

Old Saint Paul's Cathedral was a huge church in the City of London during the Middle Ages. It was one of the biggest churches in northern Europe. Building started in 1087, after a fire destroyed an older church on the same spot. It took a very long time to build, finally finishing in 1314. Sadly, in 1666, the cathedral was completely destroyed by the Great Fire of London. After the fire, a famous architect named Christopher Wren built the new St. Paul's Cathedral that stands there today.

What Was Old St. Paul's?

Old St. Paul's Cathedral was the main church for the City of London for hundreds of years. It was a very important building during the time known as the Middle Ages. This period lasted from about the 5th century to the 15th century. The cathedral was not just a place for worship. It was also a central part of London life.

Building a Giant Church

The construction of Old St. Paul's began in 1087. This was the same year a big fire destroyed the previous church on the site. The new cathedral was started under the rule of William the Conqueror. He was the first Norman King of England. Building such a massive church took a very long time. It was finally finished in 1314, over 200 years after it began!

Life Inside the Cathedral

Old St. Paul's was a busy place. People would walk through its long halls. It was sometimes called "Paul's Walk." Many important events happened there. Sermons were preached from a special spot called St. Paul's Cross. This was an outdoor pulpit where people gathered to hear speeches. The cathedral was also a place where important people were buried.

Famous Features

The cathedral had a very tall spire. This was a pointed structure on top of the church. It made the building even more impressive. Later, a famous architect named Inigo Jones added a new front to the cathedral. He designed it in a classical style. This gave the old medieval church a more modern look for its time.

The Great Fire of London

In 1666, a terrible event happened in London. It was called the Great Fire of London. The fire started in a bakery and quickly spread across the city. Old St. Paul's Cathedral was caught in the flames. The fire was so hot that it melted the lead roof. The wooden parts of the church burned down. The stone walls cracked and collapsed. The cathedral was completely destroyed.

A New Beginning

After the Great Fire, London needed to be rebuilt. A brilliant architect named Christopher Wren was chosen to design a new cathedral. He built the St. Paul's Cathedral that we know today. It stands on the very same spot where Old St. Paul's once stood. The new cathedral is a famous landmark. It reminds us of the city's history and its ability to rebuild after disaster.

Images for kids

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  Old St Paul's, still with its spire, as shown on the "Copperplate" map of the 1550s

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  Wenceslas Hollar's engraving of the cathedral nave, "Paul's walk"

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  John Franklin's illustration of Paul's Walk for William Harrison Ainsworth's 1841 novel Old Saint Paul's

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  A sermon preached from St Paul's Cross in 1614

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  A graffito executed on a wall of St Mary's Church, Ashwell in Hertfordshire is believed to show Old St Paul's Cathedral.

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  Wenceslaus Hollar's 1658 plan of the cathedral

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  Classical-style West Front by Inigo Jones added between 1630 and 1666

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  The tomb of John of Gaunt and Blanche of Lancaster in the choir of St Paul's Cathedral, as represented in an etching of 1658 by Wenceslaus Hollar. The etching includes a number of inaccuracies, for example in not showing the couple with joined hands. The tomb was lost in the Great Fire of 1666.

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  The Great Fire of London, depicted by an unknown painter (1675), as it would have appeared from a boat in the vicinity of Tower Wharf on the evening of Tuesday, 4 September 1666. To the left is London Bridge; to the right, the Tower of London. St Paul's Cathedral is in the distance, surrounded by the tallest flames.

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  An 1871 illustration showing the positions of the old and new St Paul Cathedrals

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  Memorial to John Donne, St Paul's Cathedral

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  A memorial listing those buried or memorialised in the old cathedral

See also

In Spanish: Antigua catedral de San Pablo para niños