St. Paul’s Cathedral Facts & Worksheets

St. Paul’s Cathedral is one of London’s famous buildings due to its colossal dome that has dominated the skyline for over three centuries now. More than its architectural prestige, the cathedral is prominent for serving as an Anglican Episcopal church (a mixture of Catholicism and Protestantism) in London.

See the fact file below for more information on St. Paul’s Cathedral or alternatively, you can download our 26-page St. Paul’s Cathedral worksheet pack to utilize within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

• Various churches have been built in the spot where St. Paul’s Cathedral currently stands. In 604 CE, the first Christian cathedral was constructed for St. Paul under King Aethelberht I’s rule. It was built using light materials such as wood.
• When the first cathedral burned down, it was replaced by another church built between 675-685 CE. However, during the raid and attacks of Viking raiders in vast areas of Europe, the aforementioned replacement was destroyed in 962 CE. 
• The third cathedral was built through the initiative of Bishop Maurice in 1087. It is now known as the old St Paul’s Cathedral. It stood out in London as it had a high spire that was relatively higher than the current dome of the cathedral.
• It managed to last for approximately 600 years before it got burned down again in the Great Fire of London in 1666. At this time, the cathedral was already built using heavy materials such as stone. 
• The tower of the old St. Paul’s got destroyed, and its nave was transformed into a marketplace after the Great Fire. The high-rise spire also got burned due to a lightning strike in the 16^th century. 
• In the 1630s, Inigo Jones made significant repairs to the cathedral, which can be seen through the renovated walls, construction of the entrance, and the removal of the shops in the nave.
• The Cromwellian cavalry troops of the English Civil Wars then destroyed the repairs again when they used the cathedral as their barracks from 1642-1651. 
• After these unfortunate events, Sir Christopher Wren was hired to create the new architectural design that is seen today. This current version of St. Paul’s cathedral was built between 1675 and 1710.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTIONS

• A classical English baroque style distinguishes St. Paul’s Cathedral, which was carefully designed by an architect named Sir Christopher Wren. It is known for having heavy structures with detailed decoration, but it is plain compared to other types of buildings.
• Dominating the view of the city, St Paul’s Cathedral dome measures 366 feet high, approximately equivalent to 560 steps above the ground. Its inner façade provides an illusion of looking up into a lantern. The dome has three parts: (1) an inner cupola made of brick; (2) an intermediate cone made of brick; and (3) an outer casing made of wood, covered in lead.
• About 257 steps within the great dome, a whispering gallery can be seen. It is a circular walkway. Based on anecdotes, whispering along the curving wall will be heard by anyone positioned anywhere along the same border. 
• This means that even if a person is 33 meters away, a regular whisper can still reach their ears. The science behind this is that the sound waves bounce around the inner curving section of the wall. It will only be heard when the listener is positioned on the exact opposite side of the gallery.
• Different types of stone (portland, ragstone, marble, etc.) were used to rebuild the cathedral after the Great Fire of London. It was quarried from various places in order to provide the amount of stone needed to restore the original stone cathedral.
• The cathedral’s design follows a cruciform, having two bell towers on the sides named ‘Great Tom’ and ‘Great Paul’. Its features clearly show symmetry and order, manifested in equal arches and columns.

SIGNIFICANCE

• One of the distinct English characters is shown through Anglicanism. This is highly manifested by the structure of the churches in England, which shifted from “Britishness” to “Englishness”. This is crucial because having been part of the religion equates to membership in the state itself.
• St. Paul’s Cathedral became part of London’s national culture and is a symbol of solidity and presence in English society. As a structure, it displays the qualities of English by being dualistic and singular all at once.
• Located in the center of London, St. Paul’s Cathedral stands as the center of the Empire. It was viewed as a reflection of England’s resilience as it transitioned toward World War II. It is the people’s sanctuary, identity, and public face.

DEVELOPMENTS

• From wood to stone, St. Paul’s Cathedral gave rise to a new Classical English Baroque style of building. Its dome is as vast as the nave and aisle. It has a reposeful outline and an arcade that depicts symmetry in the structure.
• The cathedral underwent several reconstructions before it became a suitable place for worship as it is today. After the Great Fire of London in 1666, a great amount of funding was needed to fix the damage caused by the disaster. Two years after this devastating incident, part of the nave collapsed which required a more permanent solution. Sir Christopher Wren, the commissioned architect at the time, proposed an initial plan considering the lack of funds. However, the first proposal, known as the ‘First Model’, was rejected.
• The final formal proposal, known as the ‘Warrant’, was approved, following a more traditional plan and with a spire in the popular classical Baroque style. It included the laying of eight central pillars and its most distinctive feature was the great dome.
• Sir Christopher Wren created several monochrome mosaic designs for the dome that would depict the life of St. Paul.

RESTORATIONS

• For 15 years, St. Paul’s Cathedral underwent repairs and cleaning. This was one of the largest repair projects ever completed in the United Kingdom. Since it was rebuilt in 1710, this was the first time that it was restored. The completion of the restoration project marked the 300th anniversary of the cathedral.
• £40 million was allotted for the restoration project of St. Paul’s Cathedral. The scaffolding has now been removed and the interior design of the church has also been transformed.
• Repairs of the Stone Gallery were also conducted since the asphalt that surrounds the dome was already cracked, causing damage to the paintings in the internal wall of the cathedral.
• A need to improve the rainwater management of St. Paul’s Cathedral was also addressed in 2016.  Defects were found on the roof of the cathedral’s Modern Aisle, and if left unrepaired, stormwater could damage the significant collections in that area. Such repairs are essential as the cathedral receives over 1.5 million visitors each year.

St. Paul’s Cathedral Worksheets

This is a fantastic bundle that includes everything you need to know about St. Paul’s Cathedral across 26 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use worksheets that are perfect for teaching about St. Paul’s Cathedral in London which is a symbol of solidity and presence in English society.

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Complete List of Included Worksheets

Below is a list of all the worksheets included in this document.

• St. Paul’s Cathedral Facts 
• Paul-se of the Day
• Mirror, Mirror on the Wall
• St. Paul-tify Playlist
• That’s Gonna Leave a Mark!
• When in St. Paul’s Cathedral
• This Is Me
• My Mini Me
• Paul of Words
• QOTD
• Take a Tour

Frequently Asked Questions

When was St Paul’s Cathedral rebuilt?

When the first cathedral burned down, it was replaced by another that was built between 675-685CE. This replacement was destroyed in 962 CE during the Viking raids. The cathedral we see now was a second replacement that was constructed in 1087.

When was St Paul’s Cathedral rebuilt after the Great Fire of London?

The cathedral survived for over 600 years before it burned down again in the 1666 fire of London. The cathedral we see today is the third rebuild which began in 1675 and ended in 1710.

When was St Paul’s Cathedral restored?

A 15-year restoration of the cathedral started in 1996 and ended in 2011. It cost £40 million to fully restore and finally remove every scaffolding. It had never been fully cleaned since 1710.

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