Old St Paul's Cathedral

Old St Paul's Cathedral
Wenceslas_Hollar_-_St._Paul's_from_the_south_showing_the_spire_(State_1).jpg: Or · Public domain · source
Name	Old St Paul's Cathedral
Caption	Old St Paul's Cathedral (c. 1656), etching by Wenceslaus Hollar
Location	City of London, England
Religious affiliation	Church of England (previously Catholic Church)
Status	Destroyed
Functional status	Cathedral
Groundbreaking	c. 1087
Year demolished	1666
Architect	William of Sens, Henry Yevele, Christopher Wren (proposed restoration)
Architectural type	Cathedral
Architectural style	Norman, Gothic
Length	585 ft
Spire height	489 ft (wooden spire, destroyed 1561)

Old St Paul's Cathedral was the medieval cathedral of the City of London that served as the seat of the Bishop of London for nearly 600 years. Preceded by earlier Saxon churches, the monumental structure was a defining landmark of the pre-modern London skyline, renowned for its immense size and soaring spire. Its history was marked by ambitious construction, repeated damage, and a final, catastrophic destruction that led to the building of the present St Paul's Cathedral.

History and construction

The site had been a place of Christian worship since AD 604, when a church was founded by Mellitus, a missionary sent by Pope Gregory I. This early structure, along with subsequent rebuilds, was destroyed by fire in 1087, prompting the ambitious Norman construction campaign. Initiated under Bishop Maurice and funded by a special tax, the new cathedral was built in the robust Romanesque style, with construction continuing for over two centuries. Major contributions came from architects like William of Sens, who had worked on Canterbury Cathedral, and the master mason Henry Yevele during the reign of Richard II. The lengthy building period resulted in a hybrid of architectural styles, with the original Norman nave later complemented by a new Gothic choir, known as the "New Work," begun in the 13th century.

Architecture and dimensions

The cathedral was one of the largest buildings in Medieval Europe, with a length exceeding that of the present St Peter's Basilica at the time. Its most famous feature was a colossal central tower, crowned by a towering wooden spire sheathed in lead, which reached a height greater than the modern Washington Monument. The interior was dominated by the immense Norman nave, described by contemporaries as "Paul's Walk," which served as a major public thoroughfare and commercial hub. Notable elements included the Jesse Tree window, the Chapter House, and the shrine of Erkenwald, an Anglo-Saxon saint. The exterior was characterized by its long, high walls, substantial buttresses, and the distinctive Paul's Cross preaching yard.

Significant events and damage

The cathedral was a central stage for national events, including the funeral of Edward the Black Prince and the preaching of the Second Crusade. It suffered its first major disaster in 1240 when a fire damaged the roof. A far greater catastrophe occurred on 4 June 1561, when the famous wooden spire was struck by lightning during a violent storm; the resulting fire melted the lead covering and destroyed the spire, which was never rebuilt. During the English Reformation, the building fell into neglect, with its Lady chapel leased to a printer and the nave used as a marketplace. Further desecration occurred under Oliver Cromwell and the Commonwealth of England, when cavalry horses were stabled inside. By the 1630s, a major restoration was attempted under King Charles I and architect Inigo Jones, who added a classical portico to the west front.

Destruction in the Great Fire

In September 1666, the Great Fire of London broke out in Pudding Lane and spread rapidly through the city's wooden buildings. The cathedral, with its vast timber roof and stores of paper and books from adjacent publishers, was highly vulnerable. Despite efforts to save it by demolishing surrounding houses, flames engulfed the structure. The intense heat caused the massive limestone walls to crack and the lead from the roof to pour into the streets "like lava." After several days, the once-mighty cathedral was a smoldering ruin, with little more than fragmented walls and the damaged portico remaining. The diarist Samuel Pepys witnessed the destruction from across the River Thames.

Legacy and remains

The ruins stood for years as a stark reminder of the fire's devastation, while plans for restoration or replacement were debated. Following the advice of Christopher Wren, the decision was made to build an entirely new cathedral. The present St Paul's Cathedral, a masterpiece of the English Baroque style, was constructed on the same site, though on a different alignment. Fragments of the old cathedral were incorporated into the new building's foundations, and a section of the medieval cloister was preserved. Today, the scale and fate of Old St Paul's are recalled through archaeological remains, contemporary drawings by artists like Wenceslaus Hollar, and its enduring presence in the historical narrative of London.

Category:Destroyed churches in London Category:History of the City of London Category:Former cathedrals in England