St. Paul's Cathedral

There has been a Cathedral in London dedicated to St. Paul since as early as the seventh century. The present cathedral is the fourth to occupy the site and was designed by Sir Christopher Wren to replace the one that was destroyed by the great fire of London.

It was built between 1675 and took thirty-five years to complete. Five different monarchs oversaw its construction with the concept that London’s leading church should be one of magnificence and grandeur.

The first service in the modern cathedral took place in 1697, thirteen years before is completion. Many of the nation’s most significant events have taken place at the cathedral, including the funeral services of Winston Churchill, the Duke of Wellington and Lord Nelson, and the jubilee celebrations of Queen Victoria and King George V.

Throughout the centuries the cathedral has had several items of decoration added and removed to reflect changing historical attitudes. AS recently as 2003 the cathedral has had a face lift to prepare it for its next 300 years!

The organ at St. Paul's which was once played by Mendelssohn dates back to the seventeenth century and is still in use today. At the request of Queen Victoria the interior of St. Paul’s is decorated with many vibrant mosaics. The Cathedral is of the Diocese of London, the Diocese is made up of the five Episcopal areas- Willesden, Edmonton, Stepney, London and Kensington. In 2004 the diocese celebrates its 1400 anniversary.

St. Paul’s Cathedral is serviced by St. Paul’s underground station which is five minutes walk away.

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