St Paul's Cathedral facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Paul's |
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| Cathedral Church of St Paul the Apostle | |
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Aerial view of the St Paul's Cathedral
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| 51°30′50″N 0°05′54″W / 51.5138°N 0.0983°W | |
| Location | London, EC4 |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Previous denomination | Roman Catholicism |
| History | |
| Status | Active |
| Consecrated | 1697 |
| Architecture | |
| Heritage designation | Grade I Listed |
| Previous cathedrals | 4 |
| Architect(s) | Sir Christopher Wren |
| 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) |
| 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) |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | London (since 604) |
| Province | Canterbury |
St Paul's Cathedral is a famous church in London, England. It is the main church for the Bishop of London and the Diocese of London. You can find it on Ludgate Hill, which is the highest spot in the City of London. This church has been dedicated to Paul the Apostle since the very first church was built here in AD 604.
The building you see today was finished in 1710. It's a Grade I listed building, meaning it's very important. Sir Christopher Wren designed it in a style called English Baroque. The cathedral was rebuilt after the terrible Great Fire of London in 1666. The older Gothic cathedral, known as Old St Paul's Cathedral, was mostly destroyed in that fire. It used to be a very important place in medieval London.
St Paul's Cathedral is one of London's most famous sights. Its huge dome has been a key part of the city's skyline for over 300 years. From 1710 to 1963, it was the tallest building in London. The dome is still one of the highest in the world. St Paul's is also the second-largest church building in the United Kingdom. Only Liverpool Cathedral is bigger in size.
Many important events have happened at St Paul's. These include funerals for famous people like Admiral Lord Nelson and Winston Churchill. It has also hosted celebrations for Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth II. The wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer took place here too. St Paul's is often shown in pictures of London, especially its dome standing strong during the Blitz bombings in World War II.
The cathedral is still a busy church with prayers and services every day. Tourists can visit, but there is a fee. However, people who come to worship or pray do not have to pay. The closest London Underground station is St Paul's. It is only about 130 yards away.
Contents
The History of St Paul's
Early Churches in London
The exact spot of London's first cathedral is not known. Some old stories say it was St Peter upon Cornhill. St Paul's is an unusual name for a cathedral, which might mean there was another one in Roman times. Legends connect St Peter upon Cornhill to early Christians in Roman London. It was built on the highest point of old London.
An old writer named William Camden thought a temple to the goddess Diana stood where the medieval St Paul's Cathedral is now. But when Sir Christopher Wren built the new cathedral after the Great Fire, he found no signs of such a temple. Today, experts don't believe Camden's idea.
Before the Normans Arrived
We know Christianity was in London during the Roman period. But there is no clear proof of where churches or a cathedral were located. A bishop named Restitutus might have represented London at a meeting in 314 AD.
In 604 AD, Augustine of Canterbury made Mellitus the first bishop for the Anglo-Saxon kingdom of the East Saxons. The king, Æthelberht, built a church for St Paul in London. This was to be the new bishop's main church. Most people believe this first Anglo-Saxon cathedral was on the same spot as the later and current cathedrals.
After King Sæberht died around 616, his sons sent Mellitus away. The East Saxons went back to their old religions. We don't know what happened to that first cathedral building. Christianity returned to the East Saxons later in the 600s. It is thought the Anglo-Saxon cathedral was either fixed or a new one was built. Bishops like Cedd and Erkenwald used it. Erkenwald was buried in the cathedral in 693.
The cathedral was burned down in a fire in 1087. Much of the city was also destroyed. This event is written in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle.
Old St Paul's Cathedral
The fourth St Paul's, often called Old St Paul's, was started by the Normans after the 1087 fire. Another fire in 1135 slowed down the work. The new cathedral was not officially opened until 1240. While it was being built, the building style changed from Romanesque to Gothic. You could see this in the pointed arches and bigger windows.
A plan to make the church even bigger began in 1256. This "New Work" was officially opened in 1300. But it wasn't fully finished until 1314. In the later Middle Ages, St Paul's was one of the longest churches. Its spire was also one of the tallest. It was about 489 feet high. By the 1500s, the building was starting to fall apart.
The English Reformation led to many changes inside the church. Decorations, chapels, and shrines were removed. The cathedral's collection of holy items was also taken away.
In 1561, the spire was hit by lightning and destroyed. Some people said this was a sign from God. Steps were taken to fix the damage. People in London and the church leaders gave money to help. But the cost to properly fix the building was too high. Instead, the roof was repaired.
In the 1630s, a new front was added to the west side of the building. This was designed by Inigo Jones, England's first classical architect. During the English Civil War, the building was damaged by Parliamentarian forces. Old documents were scattered or destroyed.
In the Great Fire of London in 1666, Old St Paul's was completely burned inside. Even though it might have been possible to rebuild it, the decision was made to build a brand new cathedral in a modern style. This idea had been discussed even before the fire.
The Present St Paul's Cathedral
Sir Christopher Wren was officially given the job of designing the new cathedral on July 30, 1669. He had already been in charge of rebuilding other churches lost in the Great Fire. Wren designed more than 50 churches in London.
Wren had actually started giving advice on fixing Old St Paul's in 1661. That was five years before the fire. He had planned to replace the old tower with a dome. After the fire, people first thought parts of the old cathedral could be saved. But in the early 1670s, the entire structure was torn down.
In July 1668, the Dean of St Paul's asked Wren to design a new cathedral. It needed to be "Handsome and noble" for the city and the country. The design process took several years. Finally, a design was approved by the king. Wren was allowed to make any changes he thought were needed. The result is the St Paul's Cathedral we see today. It is still the second largest church in Britain. Its dome is considered one of the best in the world. The building was paid for by a tax on coal. It was finished during Wren's lifetime.
The last stone was placed on the top of the cathedral on October 26, 1708. Wren's son and the son of one of the builders did this. The cathedral was officially declared complete by Parliament on Christmas Day, 1711. However, building work continued for several more years. Statues were added to the roof in the 1720s. By 1716, the total cost was over £1 million.
Consecration of the New Cathedral
On December 2, 1697, the new cathedral was officially opened for use. This was 31 years after the Great Fire destroyed Old St Paul's. The Bishop of London, Henry Compton, gave the sermon. The first regular church service was held the next Sunday.
People had different opinions about Wren's cathedral. Some loved it, saying it filled the eye with "unrestrained delight." Others did not like it, finding it "un-English."
St Paul's in the 20th and 21st Centuries
Protests and Attacks
St Paul's was targeted in 1913 and 1914. This was part of a campaign by suffragettes. They were fighting for women's suffrage, which means women's right to vote. They believed the Church of England was against women's voting rights. Between 1913 and 1914, 32 churches across Britain were attacked.
The first attempt on St Paul's was on May 8, 1913. A device was found before it could cause damage. It was made partly from a mustard tin. The remains of this device are now in the City of London Police Museum. A second attempt was made on June 13, 1914. But again, the device was found before it could explode.
Surviving War Damage
The cathedral survived the Blitz during World War II. It was hit by bombs on October 10, 1940, and April 17, 1941. The first bomb destroyed the main altar. The second bomb made a hole in the floor above the crypt. This bomb was so powerful it moved the entire dome a little bit.
On September 12, 1940, a bomb hit the cathedral but did not explode right away. A team of bomb disposal experts successfully removed it. If this bomb had exploded, it would have completely destroyed the cathedral. It left a 100-foot crater when it was later blown up safely. Two men, Robert Davies and George Cameron Wylie, received medals for this brave act.
One of the most famous pictures of London during the war is of St Paul's. It was taken on December 29, 1940. The photo shows the cathedral's dome surrounded by smoke. It became a symbol of hope and strength. Winston Churchill himself insisted that all firefighters focus on saving St Paul's. He said that damage to the church would hurt the country's spirit.
After the War
On July 29, 1981, the wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer was held at the cathedral. They chose St Paul's instead of Westminster Abbey because it had more seats.
Major repair work was done on the Dome in 1996. A 15-year restoration project was finished on June 15, 2011. It was one of the biggest restoration projects ever in the UK.
Occupy London Protest
In October 2011, a protest group called Occupy London set up camp in front of the cathedral. They were protesting against big banks and capitalism. The cathedral's income was affected because it had to close. One church leader resigned, saying that removing the protesters would be against the church's values. The Dean of St Paul's also resigned. The protest camp was eventually removed in February 2012 by court order.
2019 Attack Plot
On October 10, 2019, a person was arrested after an investigation. This person had planned to attack the cathedral and other places using explosives. The plot was stopped, and the person was sentenced to life imprisonment.
National Events at St Paul's
St Paul's Cathedral is very large and in a great location. This makes it perfect for important national events. Its grand entrance, large nave, and space under the dome are ideal for ceremonies. St Paul's can hold more people than any other church in London. In the past, temporary seating allowed over 10,000 people to attend.
Many national events attended by the royal family and government leaders have taken place here. These include services of thanksgiving, state funerals, and royal weddings. Some of the most famous events are:
- Thanksgiving service for the Acts of Union 1707, May 1, 1707
- State funeral of Horatio Nelson, January 9, 1806
- State funeral of the Duke of Wellington, November 18, 1852
- Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria, June 22, 1897
- Thanksgiving service for the end of World War I, July 6, 1919
- Thanksgiving services for the end of World War II, May 13 and August 19, 1945
- State funeral of Winston Churchill, January 30, 1965
- Silver Jubilee of Elizabeth II, June 7, 1977
- Wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer, July 29, 1981
- Golden Jubilee of Elizabeth II, June 4, 2002
- Diamond Jubilee of Elizabeth II, June 5, 2012
- Ceremonial funeral of Margaret Thatcher, April 17, 2013
- Thanksgiving service for the Queen's 90th Birthday, June 10, 2016
- Platinum Jubilee National Service of Thanksgiving, June 3, 2022
How the Cathedral Works
St Paul's Cathedral is a busy church. It holds four or five services every day. These include morning prayers, Holy Communion, and evening prayers. The cathedral also hosts many special services for the City of London. As London's largest church, it plays a role in state events. For example, it held a service for Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee. The cathedral is usually open daily for tourists. It also has regular organ concerts and other performances. The current Bishop of London is Sarah Mullally.
Cathedral Leadership
The cathedral is run by a group of seven people called the cathedral chapter. This group includes the dean and several canons. Each person has a different job in running the cathedral.
- Dean — Andrew Tremlett (since September 2022)
- Chancellor — Paula Gooder (since May 2019)
- Steward — Neil Evans (since June 2022)
Music at St Paul's
The Director of Music is Andrew Carwood. He started in September 2007. He is the first Director of Music since the 1100s who is not an organ player.
Organs
The main organ was finished in 1872. It is the fifth-largest organ in Great Britain. It has 7,256 pipes, 5 keyboards, and 137 stops. The beautiful case for the organ was designed in Wren's workshop. It was decorated by Grinling Gibbons.
Choir
St Paul's Cathedral has a full professional choir. They sing regularly at services. The choir has been around since at least 1127. Today, it includes up to 30 boy choristers and 12 professional male singers. In 2017, the first female singer joined the choir. In 2022, it was announced that girls would be able to join the cathedral choir in 2025.
The choir sings evening prayers six times a week during school terms. On Sundays, they also sing at morning prayers and the main communion service. Many famous musicians have been part of St Paul's Cathedral's music.
Wren's Cathedral Design
How the Design Developed
When designing St Paul's, Christopher Wren faced many challenges. He needed to create a grand cathedral to replace the old one. It had to be a place of worship and a landmark for London. He also had to please the church and the king. Wren knew about new building styles from Italy and France.
Wren's design went through five main stages. His first idea was a round, domed entrance and a rectangular church. This was rejected because it wasn't "stately enough." His second design was shaped like a Greek cross. But the church leaders thought it didn't fit the Anglican church services.
Wren's third design is shown in the "Great Model" from 1673. This model is made of oak and plaster. It is over 13 feet tall and 21 feet long. This design kept the Greek-Cross shape but added a long main hall (nave). Critics said it was too different from other English churches. Another problem was that the whole design had to be built at once. This was unusual, as churches were often built in stages. The Great Model was Wren's favorite design. He thought it showed true Renaissance beauty. After this, Wren decided not to make more models. He didn't want his ideas judged by people who weren't experts. The Great Model is still kept inside the cathedral today.
Wren's fourth design is called the Warrant design. It was approved by the king. In this design, Wren tried to mix the Gothic style, common in English churches, with a "better manner of architecture." It had the long cross shape of a medieval cathedral. It also had classical entrances at the west and transept ends. These were inspired by Inigo Jones's work on Old St Paul's. The roof over the middle had a wide, shallow dome. From this rose a spire with seven smaller sections. Some think the spire was inspired by Asian pagodas.
The Final Design
The final design that was built is quite different from the official Warrant design. The king gave Wren permission to make "ornamental changes." Wren used this freedom a lot. Many changes were made over the 30 years the church was built. The biggest change was to the dome. Wren built a brick cone between the inner and outer domes. This cone supports the heavy stone lantern on top. The outer dome, covered in lead, hides the brick cone.
The first stone of the cathedral was laid in June 1675. The exact date is debated.
How it Was Built
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Wren had to build a large cathedral on London's soft clay soil. St Paul's is unusual because it has a huge crypt under the entire building. This crypt helps support the weight of the church above. Most cathedrals have their towers and domes supported by four pillars. But Wren designed St Paul's dome to be supported by eight pillars. This spreads the weight out more.
One challenge was to create a dome that looked tall from the outside but also good from the inside. Wren designed a double-shelled dome, like at St Peter's Basilica in Rome. He made the inner and outer domes much different in height. Between them, he put a brick cone. This cone supports the outer dome and the stone lantern. Both the cone and the inner dome are 18 inches thick. They are strengthened with iron chains to prevent cracks.
The Warrant Design showed outside supports (buttresses) on the ground floor. Wren changed this. He made the cathedral walls very thick instead. Flying buttresses were added later to give extra strength to the upper parts. These are hidden behind the upper wall. This wall helps keep the building's classical look. Its weight also helps balance the push of the buttresses on the lower walls.
Builders and Artists
Wren had many skilled people helping him. Nicholas Hawksmoor was his main assistant from 1684. The master stonemasons were Joshua Marshall and the brothers Thomas and Edward Strong. John Langland was the master carpenter for over 30 years. Grinling Gibbons was the main sculptor. He carved stone on the building and wood inside. Francis Bird created the large statues on the west front. The floor was paved with black and white marble in 1709–10. Jean Tijou made the beautiful ironwork gates and railings.
What St Paul's Looks Like
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St Paul's Cathedral is built in a calm Baroque style. This style mixes traditional English cathedral ideas with new influences. These influences came from Italy and France. St Paul's plan shows medieval influences. Like other great medieval cathedrals, St Paul's is long for its width. It also has transepts that stick out a lot. The front of the church is very important in its design.
Outside the Cathedral
The most famous part of St Paul's is its dome. It rises 365 feet to the cross at the very top. This height is linked to Wren's interest in astronomy. Until the late 1900s, St Paul's was the tallest building in the City of London. It was designed to be seen with the delicate spires of Wren's other city churches around it. Experts describe the dome as "probably the finest in Europe" and "one of the most perfect in the world."
The Dome
Wren got ideas from the domes of St Peter's Basilica in Rome and the Church of Val-de-Grâce in Paris. Unlike those, St Paul's dome rises in two clear stone levels. These levels, with a plain base, are about 95 feet high. Wren wanted a continuous row of columns around the dome's base. In the finished building, Wren made it look strong by placing niches between columns every fourth opening. This row of columns helps support both the inner dome and the brick cone inside.
Above the columns is a second level with a balcony. This balcony is called the "Stone Gallery." Above this level, the lead-covered dome rises. It has eight small windows that let light into the space between the domes.
The lantern on top of the dome also rises in stages. It is unusual because it has a square shape, not round. The tallest part looks like a small temple with four columned entrances. Its lowest level has the "Golden Gallery." The very top has a cross on a golden ball. The lantern weighs about 850 tons.
The West Front
For architects designing a large church front, the challenge was to connect the tall central nave with the lower side aisles. Wren's solution was a classical entrance with paired columns. The lower part of this entrance stretches across the full width of the aisles. The upper part shows the nave behind it.
The towers stand outside the width of the aisles. They hide two chapels behind them. The lower parts of the towers look very strong. Their windows are smaller and set deep into the walls. This shows how thick the walls are.
Above the main decorative band, the details are large so they can be seen from far away. The towers rise from a square base. Each tower has a central cylinder and paired columns at the corners. The top of each tower is a curved dome shape. It supports a golden pineapple-shaped decoration.
The transepts, the parts that stick out on the sides, each have a curved entrance. Wren was inspired by a Baroque church in Rome for this design. These curved shapes match the curved end of the building at the east.
The Walls
The building has two levels of stone walls above a basement. A railing runs along the top of the upper level. This railing was added in 1718, even though Wren didn't want it. The inside sections of the building are shown on the outside by paired columns.
Between the columns on both levels are windows. The lower windows have rounded tops. They are surrounded by decorations. Below each window is a floral carving by Grinling Gibbons. These are some of the best stone carvings on the building. A decorative band with similar carvings runs below the top edge. The upper windows are simpler. They are blind (don't open) and have niches. Small windows in the basement catch the light. The height from the ground to the top of the railing is about 110 feet.
Fencing
The original fence around the cathedral was taken down in the 1870s. It was sent to Toronto, Canada. There, it now decorates High Park.
Inside the Cathedral
Inside, St Paul's has a long main hall (nave) and a choir area. The entrance from the west is through a square, domed hall. This hall is flanked by two chapels. The nave is 91 feet high. It is separated from the side aisles by arches with columns. The sections of the roof are rectangular. But Wren covered them with saucer-shaped domes. The choir's roof is decorated with mosaics. The dome and the curved end of the choir are reached through wide arches. These arches have carved ceilings. The transepts extend north and south of the dome.
The choir area holds the seats for the clergy, church officers, and the choir. These wooden fittings, including the pulpit and Bishop's throne, were designed by Wren's team. The carvings are the work of Grinling Gibbons. Jean Tijou, a French metalworker, made the beautiful iron gates and railings.
The cathedral is about 574 feet long, including the main entrance. The nave is 223 feet long, and the choir is 167 feet long. The nave is 121 feet wide. Across the transepts, it is 246 feet wide. The cathedral is a bit shorter but wider than Old St Paul's.
The Dome Interior
The main space inside the cathedral is under the central dome. It spans the full width of the nave and aisles. The dome rests on arches that connect eight pillars. These pillars are not spaced evenly. But Wren made them look even by adding smaller arches.
Above the arches, 99 feet above the floor, is a ledge. This supports the Whispering Gallery. It's called this because of its amazing acoustics. If you whisper against the wall, someone on the other side of the gallery can hear you clearly. You can reach it by climbing 259 steps.
The dome rises above a golden ledge. Its painted decoration by Sir James Thornhill shows eight scenes from the life of St Paul. These paintings continue the look of the niches below. At the very top of the dome is a round opening. Through this hole, you can see the decorated inner surface of the cone that supports the lantern. This upper space is lit by hidden windows in the outer dome.
The Apse
The eastern end of the church, called the apse, is as wide and tall as the choir. It is decorated with mosaics. The original altar was destroyed by bombing in 1940. The current main altar was designed by W. Godfrey Allen and Stephen Dykes Bower.
The apse was dedicated in 1958 as the American Memorial Chapel. It was paid for by donations from British people. A Roll of Honour lists the names of over 28,000 Americans. These were people who died while serving in the UK during World War II. The three windows in the apse show themes of service and sacrifice. The wood panels include a rocket, honoring America's space achievements.
Art, Tombs, and Memorials
St Paul's was decorated with stone and wood carvings by Grinling Gibbons. It also had paintings in the dome by Thornhill and metalwork by Jean Tijou. Later, mosaics by Sir William Richmond were added. Other artworks include William Holman Hunt's painting The Light of the World. In the north choir aisle, there is a stone sculpture of the Madonna and Child by Henry Moore.
The crypt, which is the large underground area, holds over 200 memorials and many burials. Christopher Wren was the first person buried here in 1723. Above his tomb, it says in Latin: Lector, si monumentum requiris, circumspice ("Reader, if you seek his monument, look around you").
The largest monument in the cathedral is for the Duke of Wellington. It stands on the north side of the nave. On top is a statue of Wellington on his horse. The Duke is buried in the crypt.
The tomb of Horatio, Lord Nelson is also in the crypt, next to Wellington's. The marble coffin for Nelson was originally made for Cardinal Wolsey.
At the eastern end of the crypt is the Chapel of the Order of the British Empire. It was started in 1917. There are many other memorials for British military members. These include lists of service members who died in action, like in the Gulf War.
Other famous people remembered here include Florence Nightingale, J. M. W. Turner, and Winston Churchill. There are also lists of bishops and deans from the last thousand years. One special sculpture is of the Dean and poet, John Donne. He posed for his own statue before he died. It shows him wrapped in a burial shroud. This sculpture is the only one that survived the Great Fire of 1666 intact.
The treasury is also in the crypt. But the cathedral has very few treasures left. Many were lost, and a big robbery in 1810 took almost all the remaining valuable items.
East India Company Trail
In 2023, St Paul's Cathedral started a project with the Stepney Community Trust. Volunteers helped explain the history behind many memorial statues inside the cathedral. These statues honored people linked to the British Empire, including its less positive aspects. The project created texts to explain the wider historical context of these statues. These texts are available on the St Paul's Cathedral website. Visitors can also use a printed guide and QR codes to learn more.
The Clock and Bells
A clock was put in the south-west tower in 1709. The current clock mechanism was built in 1893. It is 19 feet long. Since 1969, the clock has been wound by electricity.
Great Paul Bell
The south-west tower also holds four bells. One of them is called Great Paul. It was made in 1881. It weighed about 16.5 tons. It was the largest bell in the British Isles until 2012. Great Paul is usually rung at 1 pm each day. But it had not been rung for many years because its chiming part was broken. On July 31, 2021, Great Paul was rung by hand for the first time in two decades.
Great Tom Bell
Another clock bell is Great Tom. It was moved from the Palace of Westminster. It has been recast several times. It chimes the hour. It is traditionally rung when a member of the royal family, the Bishop of London, or the Lord Mayor of London dies. It was last rung for the death of Queen Elizabeth II in 2022. It rang once every minute for her 96 years of life.
Quarter-Jacks Bells
In 1717, two more bells were added. They are called "quarter-jacks" and ring every 15 minutes. They are still used today. They are sometimes called Ding and Dong because of their sound.
Other Bells
The north-west tower has 13 bells. A set of 12 bells is used for change ringing. There is also a single communion bell. In January 2018, the bells were removed for repairs. They were put back in September of that year. The original communion bell, from 1700, is called "the Banger." It is rung before 8 am services.
| Bell (Name) | Weight | Nominal Hz |
Note | Diameter | Date cast |
Founder | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (long measure) | (lb) | (kg) | (in) | (cm) | |||||
| 1 | 8 long cwt 1 qr 4 lb | 928 | 421 | 1,461 | F | 30.88 | 78.4 | 1878 | John Taylor & Co |
| 2 | 9 long cwt 0 qr 20 lb | 1,028 | 466 | 1,270 | E♭ | 32.50 | 82.6 | 1878 | John Taylor & Co |
| 3 | 9 long cwt 3 qr 12 lb | 1,104 | 501 | 1,199 | D | 34.00 | 86.4 | 1878 | John Taylor & Co |
| 4 | 11 long cwt 2 qr 22 lb | 1,310 | 594 | 1,063 | C | 36.38 | 92.4 | 1878 | John Taylor & Co |
| 5 | 13 long cwt 1 qr 0 lb | 1,484 | 673 | 954 | B♭ | 38.63 | 98.1 | 1878 | John Taylor & Co |
| 6 | 13 long cwt 2 qr 14 lb | 1,526 | 692 | 884 | A | 39.63 | 100.7 | 1878 | John Taylor & Co |
| 7 | 16 long cwt 1 qr 18 lb | 1,838 | 834 | 784 | G | 43.75 | 111.1 | 1878 | John Taylor & Co |
| 8 | 21 long cwt 3 qr 18 lb | 2,454 | 1,113 | 705 | F | 47.63 | 121.0 | 1878 | John Taylor & Co |
| 9 | 27 long cwt 1 qr 22 lb | 3,074 | 1,394 | 636 | E♭ | 52.50 | 133.4 | 1878 | John Taylor & Co |
| 10 | 29 long cwt 3 qr 21 lb | 3,353 | 1,521 | 592 | D | 55.25 | 140.3 | 1878 | John Taylor & Co |
| 11 | 43 long cwt 2 qr 0 lb | 4,872 | 2,210 | 525 | C | 61.25 | 155.6 | 1878 | John Taylor & Co |
| 12 | 61 long cwt 2 qr 12 lb | 6,900 | 3,130 | 468 | B♭ | 69.00 | 175.3 | 1878 | John Taylor & Co |
| Clock (quarter-jack Ding) | 12 long cwt 2 qr 9 lb | 1,409 | 639 | 853 | A♭ | 1707 | Richard Phelps | ||
| Clock (quarter-jack Dong) | 24 long cwt 2 qr 26 lb | 2,770 | 1,256 | 622 | E♭ | 1707 | Richard Phelps | ||
| Clock (Great Tom) | 102 long cwt 1 qr 22 lb | 11,474 | 5,205 | 425 | A♭ | 82.88 | 210.5 | 1716 | Richard Phelps |
| Bourdon (Great Paul) | 334 long cwt 2 qr 19 lb | 37,483 | 17,002 | 317 | E♭ | 114.75 | 291.5 | 1881 | John Taylor & Co |
| Communion (The Banger) | 18 long cwt 2 qr 26 lb | 2,098 | 952 | 620 | E♭ | 49.50 | 125.7 | 1700 | Philip Wightman |
St Paul's: Art, Education, and Tourism
St Paul's Cathedral Arts Project
The St Paul's Cathedral Arts Project explores how art and faith connect. This project has included art installations by famous artists. For example, Gerry Judah, Antony Gormley, and Yoko Ono have created works here.
In 2014, Gerry Judah created an artwork in the main hall. It marked 100 years since the start of World War I. His sculptures showed white cross shapes. They looked like the war graves in France. They also included small destroyed buildings from modern war zones. This connected 100 years of conflict.
Bill Viola created two altarpieces for St Paul's. These are video installations with multiple screens. They are placed near the main altar.
In 2010, two new works by Mark Alexander were hung in the nave. These large red artworks were inspired by a damaged altarpiece from a German cathedral.
In 2007, a public artwork called "The Question Mark Inside" was created. It marked 300 years since Wren's building was topped out. Digital text was projected onto the dome and other parts of the cathedral. The text shared ideas about what makes life meaningful.
St Paul's in Art and Media
St Paul's Cathedral has been painted and drawn many times. Famous artists like Canaletto and Turner have featured it.
- Paintings and engravings of St Paul's
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Canaletto: The River Thames with St. Paul's Cathedral (1746)
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19th-century engraving by Thomas Hosmer Shepherd
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19th-century engraving by Edward Angelo Goodall
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Oil painting, John O'Connor, Evening on Ludgate Hill (1887)
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St Paul's from Richmond House by Canaletto (1747)
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St Paul's viewed from a loggia by Antonio Joli (around 1748)
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St Paul's from the River by Ernest Dade
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St Paul's from Bankside, a watercolor by Frederick E. J. Goff
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Photography and Film
St Paul's Cathedral has been in many photographs. The most famous is the picture of its dome surrounded by smoke during the Blitz. It has also appeared in films and TV shows. Sometimes it's the main focus, and other times it's just a background. For example, Wren's Geometric Staircase has been in several films, including Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.
Films that have shown St Paul's include:
- St. Paul's Cathedral (1942), a wartime documentary.
- Lawrence of Arabia (1962) shows the outside of the building.
- Mary Poppins (1964) features the steps and west front. This is the main setting for the song '"Feed the Birds'".
- Doctor Who has shown St Paul's twice. In 1968 and 2014, the Cybermen are seen outside the cathedral.
- The Goodies episode "Kitten Kong" (1971) shows a giant cat knocking off the dome.
- Lifeforce (1985) uses the cathedral's interior for the film's ending.
- Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004) shows the Geometric Staircase.
- Star Trek Into Darkness (2013) shows St Paul's in a future London.
- In the movie Mortal Engines (2018), St Paul's is the only old London building that survives a war.
See also
In Spanish: Catedral de San Pablo de Londres para niños
