We are now arrived at the St Paul’s Cathedral. First of all we will explain you guys a little bit more about the history of this Cathedral.
In 1666, there was a fire that destroyed 80 churches, among which the first St Paul’s cathedral. Christopher Wren got the honor to build a new cathedral. Christopher’s first sketch in 1669 was not approved because he made a design of the Cathedral in the form of a Greek cross. His second attempt in 1673 was also not approved. But his third design got approved and they started building this cathedral in 1675, and was completed (on October 20) in 1708. That was on the 76th birthday of its architect, Sir Christopher Wren. So, the construction of the cathedral took 33 years. During WOII the St. Paul’s Cathedral was the target of German bombardments, but the damage stayed limited.
Wren was also the first person who’s buried in the crypt (see later). The Cathedral is also 111 meters high.
The Cathedral was the first cathedral built after the English reformation. The floors are made of marble.
In her design we recognize Neoclassical, Gothic and Baroque elements. By applying the Baroque style, the church tried to exaggerate the people. If you look around you can recognize baroque style at the curls, pomp and circumstance. Something typical gothic are the curved windows and vaulted ceilings. Something typical neoclassicism is great attention to the contour lines, anatomy, rationality, sophistication …
The dome is inspired by St Peter’s Basillica in Rome.
The St Paul’s Cathedral is the center of national events, like; funerals and jubilee celebrations of important people, peace services, the launch of the Festival of Britain, … One of the special occasions that took place in the cathedral is the marriage of Lady Diana with Prince Charles. But also the burial of Margaret Thatcher who was prime Minister of the United Kingdom in the 80s.
Wellington Monument
The Wellington’s Monument is a monument to one of the Britain’s greatest soldiers and statesmen, Arthur Wellesley, the first Duke of Wellington, held to be the greatest military hero of the British army during the Battle at Waterloo. Arthur Wellesley is born in Dublin on 1 may 1769. He was named the Iron Duke. They also call him the hero of the 19th century, and is most famous for his victory over Napoleon at Waterloo in 1815. And he later became the Prime Minister. Arthur died in September 1852. After his dead, the government wanted a monument to commemorate him, here in the St Paul’s Cathedral, is here on the north aisle. Alfred Stevens who designed the monument is one of the most important sculptors of the UK. Stevens died in his studio on 1st May 1875. It is possible that he committed suicide out of despair. Eventually Hugh Stannus and John Tweed continued the work. Wellington died in 1852 but this monument was not completed until 1912, when the figure on horseback was unveiled.
The Light of the World (painting)
The light of the World (pictured right) is a painting of oil painted on a canvas. Holman Hunt is the one who painted this impressive piece of art. It was completed around 1900 and is the third version that Hunt painted. This painting became the most travelling art work in history. The door on the painting represents the human soul, and the figure of Christ knocking on that door that opens from inside suggests that God can only enter our lives if we invite Him in. We also see two lights in the painting. The latern light, and it symbolizes the light of conscience. But also the light around the head of Christ which represents the light of salvation. The fallen leaves and the autumn weeds represent the autumn of life. We also see apple trees, they symbolize several biblical references, like for example the tree of knowledge. The fallen apples could represent the fall of men. The frame which surrounds the painting is the work of Hilda Herbert and a Miss Smith.
Choir Stalls
Now, we’re standing by the Choir Stalls of the cathedral. A choir is also sometimes called quire. It is the area of a church or a cathedral that provides seats for the clergy and the choir. The clergy consist of the bishop, priests, deacon and so on. St Pauls’s Cathedral Choir is active since 1127 and consist about 30 professional adult singers who can sing alto, tenors and bass.
The design, construction and decoration of the choir took at least four and a half years to finish. It was finished in 1697.
Here we have the organ. The current Organ was built and installed in the 17th century by Grinling Gibbons. He was born in Rotterdam and was a very good woodcarver.
The organ is the third biggest in Britain. It can make the most incredible music.
If you look up, you can see the vaults. The vaults of the choir are decorated with mosaics, done by Sir William Blake Richmond. His work on the St Paul’s choir stalls is extraordinary.
The original choir stalls are created by Grinling Gibbons. This job took 2 years.
Jean Tijou, who was an ironworker, did the grillwork of the choir. He was a Frenchman. He also did the ironwork for the gardens at Hampton Court Palace.
Bishop’s Throne
The Bishop’s Throne or Cathedra is located in the Quire. The Throne is carved by Grinling Gibbons around 1696. A cathedral takes its name from the Bishop’s chair.
The wooden furniture was designed in the office of Wren and built by carpenters.
It was used by the Bishop of London on grand state occasions.
Tijou gates
Jean Tijou was an ironworker born in France, but known only for his work in England. The ironwork gates and grills in the Quire, the railing of the Geometrical Staircase of the West Gallery and the 4 Galleries in the Dome, are the monuments of this amazing artist. But the most spectacular example of his work here is the North and South Choir Screens.
Sculpture: Mother and Child by Henry Moore
Mother and Child by Henry Moore who is commemorated in the crypt. Moore decided that travertine marble would be a more suitable material than bronze for the site chosen, in the north choir aisle of the cathedral, close to the main altar.
Chapel of modern martyrs
Martyrs (=someone who tortures other people), the first of two large-scale permanent video installations created in the early 1990’s by the international known Bill Viola (located behind the High Altar, in the south quire aisle next to the American Memorial Chapel). We see four color vertical screens. As the work begins, every individual is shown in a position that they stay in. In each scene there is a movement as an element of nature that begins to disturb the stillness. Like for example flames rain down, wind begins to lash, water cascades and earth flies uit. The memorial to modern martyrs honors Anglicans who have died for their faith since 1850 and it symbolizes some of the profound mysteries of the human existence.
American memorial chapel
Behind the High Altar, is the Jesus Chapel. This is also known as the American Memorial Chapel. It honours American servicemen and women who died in the second World War.
The chapel was built with the money of donations from British men and women.
The roll of honour contains the names of more than 28,000 Americans who gave their lives while on their way to (or in) the United Kingdom during the second World War. It is located in front of the chapel’s altar.
Nelson memorial
The memorial to admiral Lord Nelson is created by the sculptor John Flaxman and is one of his finest works.
The sculptor started his work in 1808, three years after Nelson’s death and finished his work ten years later. The monument is made of stone and the art movement is neoclassicism.
The admiral stands in his robe, his left hand resting on an anchor and rope. He lost his right eye and later his right arm.
Below the monument, you can see reliefs of naked sea gods. That is because Nelson spent most of his life on sea.
Whispering Gallery
The first is the Whispering Gallery. We’ve stepped up almost 260 (259) stairs. This Gallery runs around the interior of the dome. The name comes from the charming quirk in its construction which allows a whisper to been heard at the opposite side.
Dome
This dome is one of the largest domes in the world, at almost 115 meters high. Its weight is approximately 65,000 tons and is supported by 8 pillars. The inner dome is the painted dome one can see looking up from the cathedral floor. It is this outer dome shell that is prominent on the London skyline. The area under the dome is the principal place for worship in the cathedral. When you look up in the dome you will see beautiful drawings, where they did years about to finish them.
Sir Christopher Wren’s tomb
Sir Christopher Wren, the architect of St Paul’s, was the first person that was buried in the Crypt at the St Paul’s.
His tomb is marked by a simple stone and is surrounded by memories to his family and colleagues who worked on the building of St Paul’s.
The Latin epitaph above his tomb, is written by his son and means: ‘Reader, if you see his monument, look around you.’
The Duke of Wellington
Arthur Wellesley was the first Duke of Wellington. He is also nicknamed as the Iron Duke. He was a British military leader, who belongs to the Protestant elite in Ireland. Although a national hero, Wellington was not a man of glory in his victories.
He was buried in St Paul’s in a great ceremony. That ceremony was one of the most spectacular public events in London in the 19th century.
Lord Wellington rests in a casket made of granite.
On the floor you can see the thistle, this is a symbol that reminds Christians of the crown of thorns that Jesus wore when he died. It also represents Scotland.
Florence Nightingale
Florence Nightingale was an English nurse, social reformer and mystic statistician. She became famous as a nurse for the sick and wounded British soldiers during the Crimean War. Self she felt she hadn’t done her job well.
Florence made hospitals cleaner places. She showed that good nurses and clean hospitals helped sick people getting better. She was also the founder of modern nursing.
On the central white image, you can see Miss Nightingale while she’s offering a glass of water to a sick man. At the top of the coloured frame you can read the sentence: “BLESSED ARE THE MERCIFUL”. On the bottom part of the frame, you can see her name with the dates of birth and death.
This is not her tomb. Florence Nightingale is buried in her family tomb in Hampshire.
Admiral Lord Nelson
Admiral Nelson was a British admiral and a national hero. He is famous for his victories against the French during the Napoleonic Wars.
Lord Nelson was killed in the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805 and buried in St Paul’s after a state funeral. Nelson’s funeral was a huge public event. He was laid in a coffin made from the timber of a French ship he defeated during a battle.
Nelson’s black crypt stand for honour in the Crypt. It is standing on a mosaic floor in the middle of the central space, surrounded by eight Tuscan pillars. The sarcophagus was already nearly 300 years old when it was given for Nelson.
On the floor you can see this anchor. This reminds us Nelson was a great sailor and spent much time at sea.
Some fun facts about the crypt
- There are more than 200 memorials in the Crypt.
- The crypt is the largest in Europe.
- The mosaic floor was made by the ladies from a prison. One of them was a famous murderess, Constance Kent.
- The last person was buried in the Crypt in 1936, he was buried next to his worst enemy.