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
Location	City of London
Country	England
Denomination	Church of England
Founded date	c. 604
Founder	Augustine of Canterbury
Demolished date	1666
Diocese	Diocese of London
Notable architect	Christopher Wren (successor rebuild)

Old St Paul's Cathedral Old St Paul's Cathedral was the medieval cathedral of the Diocese of London located on the site of the present St Paul's Cathedral, London. Originating in the early Anglo-Saxon period, the structure played central roles in the religious life of London and witnessed events involving figures such as William the Conqueror, Thomas Becket, Henry VIII, and Elizabeth I. Its history intersected with institutions including the Guildhall, London, the Royal Navy, and the City of London Corporation until its destruction in the Great Fire of London.

History

The cathedral's origins are traditionally linked to Augustine of Canterbury's mission and the early Anglo-Saxon Settlement of Londinium. A succession of buildings stood on the site from the 7th century through the Norman period, with significant renovations under bishops like Maurice (bishop of London) and Wulfstan (bishop of Worcester) during the Old English era. After the Norman Conquest of England, the cathedral was rebuilt under influences from Romanesque architecture patrons such as Lanfranc, while the episcopacy of Richard FitzNeal and Robert de Sigello saw administrative ties to institutions like the Exchequer and the Tower of London. The medieval cathedral became notable during controversies involving Thomas Becket and royal ceremonies for monarchs including Henry II, Edward I, and Richard II. During the Reformation, actions by Henry VIII and Thomas Cromwell affected the cathedral's monastic links and chantry practices, and the building figured in liturgical changes under Edward VI and the later policies of Mary I of England and Elizabeth I.

Architecture and Design

The cathedral evolved from an early timber basilica to a vast Gothic shrine, reflecting stylistic currents seen in structures like Canterbury Cathedral, Durham Cathedral, and York Minster. Major reconstruction campaigns in the 13th and 14th centuries introduced elements associated with architects and masons who worked on projects for patrons such as Eleanor of Provence and Simon de Montfort. The nave and choir proportions echoed the vertical emphasis found in Salisbury Cathedral and the window tracery paralleled developments at Lincoln Cathedral. The spire, clerestory, transepts, aisles, chapels, and crypt incorporated features comparable to Westminster Abbey and continental models like Notre-Dame de Paris. Stonemasons from guilds connected to the Worshipful Company of Masons and carpenters similar to those serving Hampton Court Palace contributed to timber roofing and leadwork reminiscent of Winchester Cathedral. Furnishings included tombs and effigies of figures such as Geoffrey Chaucer, John Donne, and Christopher Wren's later memorials placed in the successor cathedral site.

Religious and Cultural Role

Old St Paul's served as the episcopal seat for the Bishop of London and as a venue for royal coronations, state funerals, and civic ceremonies attended by monarchs including William III and Mary II (later ceremonies at the successor cathedral). The cathedral hosted sermons by preachers like John Fisher and William Laud and musical rites influenced by composers associated with Westminster Abbey and St Martin-in-the-Fields. It housed chantries funded by patrons such as Margaret Beaufort and guilds like the Company of Merchant Taylors, and it functioned as a public forum where pamphleteers, including those in the orbit of Martin Luther and William Tyndale, engaged with issues of doctrine and reform. The building's civic connections brought it into contact with London Livery Companies, the Court of Common Council, and events like the Peasants' Revolt and Gunpowder Plot aftermath ceremonies.

Destruction and Aftermath

Old St Paul's suffered damage in episodic fires and structural failures before its catastrophic loss in the Great Fire of London of 1666, an event that also devastated the City of London and landmarks like the Royal Exchange. Contemporary accounts from figures such as Samuel Pepys and officials like Sir Christopher Wren document the conflagration and the debates that followed regarding rebuilding under the authority of Parliament of England and royal commissions linked to Charles II of England. The decision to replace it with a new design by Wren led to the construction of the present St Paul's Cathedral, London, with financial and political implications involving the City of London Corporation, the Bank of England, and patrons such as Sir Christopher Wren's supporters in the court of James II.

Archaeology and Remains

Archaeological work on the site has revealed foundations, crypt fragments, tombs, and funerary monuments that connect to burials of notable individuals like John Donne and memorials once associated with Geoffrey Chaucer and Mary, Countess of Pembroke. Excavations coordinated by bodies including the Museum of London and the London Archaeological Archive have compared findings to similar investigations at Roman London sites and Billingsgate Roman bathhouse remains. Portable artifacts and architectural fragments are curated in institutions such as the Guildhall Art Gallery, the Victoria and Albert Museum, and the British Museum, while inscriptions and ledger stones inform studies by historians at University of Oxford, University of Cambridge, and King's College London. Conservation efforts relate to broader urban archaeology initiatives like those at Crossrail and heritage legislation under the aegis of Historic England.

Category:Churches in the City of London Category:Medieval architecture Category:Destroyed cathedrals