Grinling Gibbons’s intricate quire carvings and Sir James Thornhill’s gilded dome paintings are just two examples of the breathtaking variety of art on display at St. Paul’s. Yoko Ono and Antony Gormley are just two of the many acclaimed contemporary artists whose sculptures adorn the cathedral and enhance the regular worship service.
Spectacular domed ceilings and interior Whispering Gallery towered over us as we marvelled at the sparkling mosaics, sculptures, and religious art that adorn the cathedral. The 365-foot-tall and 65,000-tonne dome of St. Paul’s Cathedral is among the biggest in the world. Delve into the backgrounds of a few of the featured artworks in this article.
History of St. Paul’s Cathedral
After its foundation in 604 AD and devastation in the Great Fire of London in 1666, Sir Christopher Wren built and finished the new St. Paul’s Cathedral in 1710. Among London’s most iconic and significant landmarks is St. Paul’s Cathedral. The cathedral withstood several dangers in the twentieth century. These include a bomb plot by the Suffragettes in 1913 and the Blitz in 1940, in addition to the Great Fire of London.
The funerals of Admiral Lord Nelson, the Duke of Wellington, Sir Winston Churchill, Margaret Thatcher, and Queens Victoria and Elizabeth II, as well as the royal wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer, were among the numerous notable events that have taken place there throughout the years.
What has made St. Paul’s Cathedral well-known?
Among its many accolades, St. Paul’s Cathedral stands out for its religious significance, breathtaking design, and status as one of the world’s tallest and biggest historical landmarks. It is a treasure to the country, a major tourist destination, and one of the most recognisable buildings in London.
After enduring fires, wars, and numerous other hardships throughout its history, St. Paul’s Cathedral is a symbol of London’s resiliency and perseverance.
St. Paul’s Cathedral Visit
You get an audio tour guide with your entry ticket, and it’s accessible in several languages. Listen to the tour while you explore the cathedral at your own leisure with the audio tour’s touch-screen multimedia guide and headphones.
Note that the cathedral prohibits photography. Also, bring shoes that provide enough support if you plan on climbing the 257 stairs to the Whispering Gallery. Visitors can enjoy free religious services within the cathedral, in addition to a café and souvenir store.
Key features of the Cathedral of St. Paul
1. The ball and lantern
The famous “Great Paul” bell and the 12-bell change ringing set are on display in St. Paul’s Cathedral. The restoration process included raising the lantern drum and bellfry to better accommodate the bells. The 850-tonne lantern rests on a brick cone and, perched atop the dome, offers breathtaking views of London from its Golden Gallery. The Stone Gallery, located below it, is yet another well-liked vantage point.
2. The Stone Emporium
The Stone Gallery at St. Paul’s Cathedral provides an aerial view of London. This lofty lookout point, reachable after ascending 376 steps, offers breathtaking views of the city and a different angle on the cathedral’s design. The Stone Gallery is an unforgettable experience for everyone, and the hike is well worth it.
3. All Souls’ Chapel
In 1925, following Lord Kitchener’s tragic death at sea, the north tower dedicated this chapel in his memory. Stained glass windows and exquisite artwork embellish it. Famous for developing the most successful recruiting slogan in military history, “Your Country Needs You,” and reorganising the British army for World War I, he died in 1918.
4. The Knights Bachelor Chapel
St. Martin’s Chapel is another name for this basement chapel. The chapel boasts two exquisite cabinets, adorned with English wood, which house the Founder Knights’ and Benefactors’ Book, along with a registry listing the names of Knights Bachelor from 1257 to the present. The sword that Queen Victoria used to knight several illustrious individuals is situated quite close by.
5. The gallery of silent voices
Notable for its exceptional acoustics and breathtaking vistas, Sir Christopher Wren’s Whispering Gallery in St. Paul’s Cathedral is well-known. Perched 30 meters above the nave below, it offers breathtaking views of the cathedral below. The 259 stairs lead to this circular promenade, which has been enthralling visitors for decades with its ability to hear whispers over the dome.
6. The Golden Gallery
There are three galleries on top of St. Paul’s church’s dome that visitors may explore; the magnificent Golden Gallery is 528 steps up from the level of the church. Located right below the lantern, this winding promenade provides breathtaking views of London. The golden railings aptly name this magnificent example of late-seventeenth-century Baroque architecture and engineering by Sir Christopher Wren.
7. The Middlesex Chapel
The Middlesex Chapel, which is also known as the Chapel of St. Erkenwald and St. Ethelburg, has been a place of worship for the COVID-19 victims’ families since March 2022. The chapel has podiums that showcase a digital book of memories as part of the Remember Me initiative. While it was on display, William Hunt’s The Light of the World was in the church.
8. The Order of the British Empire Chapel
St. Faith’s Chapel, an attachment of the Order of the British Empire, was a parish church that stood before the Great Fire destroyed the original cathedral. Since its consecration in 1960, it has served as the royal family’s spiritual residence. A beautiful stained glass window with the order’s symbol adorns the chapel as well.
9. The stunning cathedral dome
Although it is a tough climb, no trip to St. Paul’s is complete without making it to the top of the dome. To reach the peak, which is about 365 feet in elevation, you will need to climb 528 stairs. St. Paul’s Cathedral features a distinctive three-dome construction, consisting of an ornamented inside dome, a central brick dome that provides strength and support, and an outer dome that is mostly invisible. St. Paul’s dome is one of the biggest of its kind on Earth, weighing almost 65,000 tonnes.
Both the Stone Gallery and the Golden Gallery include outdoor platforms where visitors may take in breathtaking views of the Thames and London. The cathedral’s touring entrance is available to the public at 8:30 in the morning. However, the dome isn’t accessible until 9:30 in the morning.
10. The Nave
The nave, the lengthy main portion that tourists walk down upon entering the cathedral, offers the first breathtaking view of the dome’s interior. Located in this public and ceremonial area are the Great West Door, which stands at a towering 30 feet, and eight scenes from the life of St. Paul painted by Thornhill.
Two sets of sculptures, one depicting bravery and the other truth and deceit, flank the grand monument to the Duke of Wellington in the north aisle.
The Exterior
The West Front, which is 180 feet long and contains an upper colonnade above a columned portico, is one of the most notable exterior elements. Located on the West Front are the sculptures of Saints James and Peter, as well as the figure of St. Paul above the pediment.
The West Towers are a pair of Baroque towers flanking the portico; one of these towers has a peal of twelve bells. Great Paul, the heaviest bell in England, which weighed over 17 tonnes when cast in 1882, resides in the opposite tower. Time slots on Sundays when they ring the bells in unison are 9:45-10:15, 11-11:30, and 2:40-3:15.
