Situated on top of Ludgate Hill, the cathedral is renowned for its façade, which is framed by a pair of baroque towers and a classical-style portico and a pediment supported by Corinthian-style columns. (TTstudio/Shutterstock)
Situated in the heart of London, St. Paul’s Cathedral has over 1,400 years of history, being rebuilt multiple times throughout the centuries. Originally constructed by the Bishop of London in A.D. 604, the cathedral was dedicated to the Apostle Paul.
Following a fire in 1087, William the Conqueror initiated the construction of a new church, a project that took over 200 years to complete. The impressive new St. Paul’s, finished in 1240, was heavily influenced by the French Gothic style and was one of the largest churches in Europe.
St. Paul’s was consecrated in 1640, but the Great Fire of London in 1666 destroyed it once again. British architect Christopher Wren was commissioned to design a new cathedral in the baroque style, incorporating classical elements. This structure was completed in 1710.
Notable features include a dome, inspired by Michelangelo’s dome of St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, and an elaborate west façade with a large portico and twin towers. Drawing inspiration from the Italian Renaissance, Wren incorporated Corinthian columns, pilasters, and pediments, blending these elements with baroque drama to create a uniquely English interpretation of the style.
St. Paul’s cross-shaped interior features a long nave, frescoes, and a choir. Additionally, it is one of the rare cathedrals to have a crypt extending under the entire building, serving as the resting place for famous British figures, such as Adm. Lord Nelson and the Duke of Wellington.
The Baroque dome, at two stories high, is one of the largest in the world, rising 365 feet over the city skyline. It's inspired by St. Peter’s Basilica in Italy and Mansart’s Church in France. The dome features a continuous colonnade (a series of columns known as peristyle) around the drum of the dome. Above the peristyle, a balustrade balcony, known as the Stone Gallery, surrounds the dome's second level. Alternating pilasters and rectangular windows decorate the level, adding lightness to the design. The lead dome rises above the gallery, surrounded by eight light wells and crowned by a stone lantern. The lantern also rises in stages, with its tallest stage featuring a four-columned portico and a golden ball, and its lowest level surrounding the Golden Gallery. (Alberto Stocco/Shutterstock)
The west front of St. Paul’s Cathedral blends different architectural styles. Wren designed the façade in classical and the baroque styles, which became a unique English style. The façade is fronted by a flight of steps and a double-story classical portico, framed by two baroque towers. Both stories feature Corinthian columns; the top story features a carved tympanum and statues rising on top. The bell towers rise above the cornice and are composed of Corinthian columns and pilasters, and carved friezes above them. (legacy1995/Shutterstock)
The interior of St. Paul’s boasts a richly decorated cross-shaped nave with a choir and three bays, typical of the lavish baroque style. The nave is 91 feet high and is separated from the aisles by an arcade supported by Corinthian pilasters. Wren designed the intricate vaults with saucer-shaped domes and surrounded the clerestory windows with lunettes (crescent-shaped arches). The vaults are decorated with mosaics by Sir William Blake Richmond and lead to the high altar. (Fazlyeva Kamilla/Shutterstock)
The central dome of the cathedral extends to the full width of the nave and aisles. It is surrounded by eight piers and a series of rectangular windows, separated by gilded niches. The painted decoration is by Sir James Thornhill, who depicted eight scenes from the life of Saint Paul. At the center of the dome is an oculus (a circular opening in a dome) inspired by the Pantheon in Rome. (Kurka Geza Corey/Shutterstock)
The choir features the Bishop’s throne, pulpit, choir, and the organ, all designed by Wren and carved by artist Grinling Gibbons. French artisan Jean Tijou added wrought iron and gilt grilles (enclosures) to the gate leading to the choir. Above the choir, the coffered vaults are decorated with mosaics by Sir William Blake Richmond. (Diliff/CC BY-SA 3.0)
The high altar is the work of W. Godfrey Allen and Stephen Dykes Bower. The altar features limewood paneling and gilded arches, topped by the cathedral’s coffered ceiling. The altar hosts a statue of Christ, framed by wooden colonnades and a semi-circular arch, reminiscent of the Gothic architecture that once stood there. (Dilifff/CC BY-SA 3.0)
The tomb of Adm. Nelson, one of Britain's greatest heroes, is one of the many tombs and memorials inside St. Paul's Cathedral. The tomb is located at the center of the cathedral's crypt, directly under the dome. The tomb features a black sarcophagus laid on top of a natural stone plinth, surrounded by sturdy columns and an intricate mosaic floor with nautical motifs. (mhx/CC BY-SA 2.0)
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