History Around Us (St Paul's Cathedral)

Question 1

Reasons for the location of the site within surroundings

Answer 1

1. It has always been likely that there used to be a site of worship on Ludgate Hill as there are theories a Roman shrine used to be there. Mellitus built the cathedral in 604AD to serve the people of London after the Romans left. Ludgate Hill also provided natural elevation, enhancing the cathedral’s visibility and prominence in the city
2. As the heart of the City of London, the site became the spiritual and administrative hub. Proximity to Guildhall and key institutions allowed the church to influence politics and law, especially in medieval and Tudor periods. Its dominance in the skyline represented both God’s authority and London’s civic identity
3. After the 1666 fire, the same site was chosen for Wren’s new cathedral, symbolising continuity and resilience. The Rebuilding Act of 1667 emphasised safety and grandeur, reinforcing the cathedral’s key central position. The decision reflected both tradition and a forward-looking vision, keeping the cathedral at the heart of religious life in a rapidly modernising city

Question 2

When and why people first created the site

Answer 2

1. The site was chosen as part of the early Christianisation of Anglo-Saxon England. Bishop Mellitus founded the first St Paul’s in 604AD - this reflects Roman influence and the desire to re-establish Christianity post-paganism. The site was associated with saints like St Erkenwald, whose shrine later became a pilgrim destination
2. Built at Ludgate Hill, the highest point in the city, giving it spiritual and practical prominence. Location at the heart of London’s growing trade and administrative networks gave it civic importance. The walled churchyard built in 1109 helped provide security, signifying its centrality in turbulent medieval times
3. As the seat of the Bishop of London, it reinforced the role of the Church in governance and law. Symbol of divine authority and kingship: monarchs held ceremonies there, e.g. Henry VII’s marriage in 1501. Served as a visual and spiritual anchor for the city - a public space of faith, law, education and community

Question 3

The ways in which the site has changed over time

Answer 3

1. The medieval cathedral, built between 1087 and 1314, featured Romanesque and Gothic architecture. Key features included the tall spire, flying buttresses and the Shrine of St Erkenwald. These reflected both the engineering capabilities and religious priorities of the period - height symbolised closeness to God, while the shrine showed the importance of pilgrimage and relics
2. In 1666, the Great Fire of London caused the total destruction of Old St Paul’s. The intense heat melted the roof, exploded the stone walls and destroyed important features like the spire, stained glass and medieval tombs. The fire permanently erased the cathedral’s original structure and forced a complete redesign - a turning point in physical appearance
3. Christopher Wren’s new design introduced English Baroque architecture, with a larger dome, Portland stone exterior and saucer vaults instead of Gothic arches. After WWII bomb damage, the American Memorial Chapel and new high altar were added, restoring parts of the interior and updating the space. In 2022, a new porch with step-free access was installed, showing how the building continues to adapt to modern expectations of accessibility and inclusivity

Question 4

How the site has been used throughout history

Answer 4

1. It was a key pilgrimage site with the shrine of St Erkenwald attracting pilgrims seeking healing, especially for eye diseases. The nave (Paul’s walk) functioned as a marketplace, gossip centre and legal space where scribes wrote wills. Paul’s cross hosted royal declarations, sermons, and even public shaming
2. After 1666, Wren’s design served Protestant worship, with an auditory focus - sermons became central, not ritual. Hosted major occasions: funerals of Nelson (1806), Wellington (1852), Jubilee of Queen Victoria (1897) and continued to function as the city’s religious heart, but also as a symbol of national strength and unity
3. In WWII, the cathedral became a symbol of national resistance - surviving the Blitz made it iconic. Later, it was used for civil rights messages such as MLK’s sermon in 1964 and memorials like the COVID book of remembrance. Today, its a combination of worship, tourism, education, remembrance and symbolic national identity

Question 5

The diversity of activities and people associated with the site

Answer 5

1. The shrine of St Erkenwald became a popular place of pilgrimage in the Middle Ages - even lawyers paid tribute before taking office. Relic holders and craftsmen supported the shrine economy. Activities ranged from religious worship to informal trade - souvenir sellers, scribes, and stationers in the nave
2. Wren’s cathedral served royalty, clergy, and citizens alike - hosting royal events, funerals and civic ceremonies. Military, artistic and political figures are commemorated in monuments: Nelson, Wellington, Churchill, William Blake. Post WWII, the chapel was dedicated to the American war dead, reflecting international as well as national roles
3. Diverse users today: worshippers, tourists, campaigners and even tech engineers for online services. Site of civil rights speech by MLK (1964); protests like Occupy London (2011) show continued political role. The COVID-19 remembrance project shows how St Paul’s continues to adapt to modern human needs

Question 6

The reasons for the changes to the site and how it was used

Answer 6

1. The reformation led to the destruction of the Shrine of St Erkenwald, relics and Catholic decoration. Under Edward VI, icons were removed, and under Mary I, heretics were tried at the cathedral. These changes show how the shifts in state religion under Tudor monarchs directly altered both how the cathedral looked and how it was used - from pilgrimage and relic veneration to Protestant preaching
2. In the 1640s-1650s, Puritan control led to the closure of the cathedral for worship. it was turned into stables, barracks and even a prison. The organ was destroyed and the statues above the portico were removed as symbols of monarchy. These changes came from radical anti-Anglican ideology, showing how politics can disrupt religious use and strip away symbolic features
3. After the great fire, Wren rebuilt the cathedral with a focus on Protestant unity and royal restoration - the dome and open interior reflected this new ideology. In the 20th century, the cathedral became a site of national memory e.g. bomb damage led to the creation of the American Memorial Chapel. More recently, accessibility changes like the 2022 step-free porch reflect modern social values around inclusion

Question 7

Turning Point (The Great Fire of London)

Answer 7

1. Clergy and cathedral staff lost their place of worship, work and community - 153 children had to evacuate St Paul’s School. Londoners experienced the fire as personal trauma - eyewitness William Taswell described watching the cathedral catch fire and John Evelyn wrote about the “stones of Paules” flying like grenades
2. The fire completely destroyed the medieval structure - the roof melted, the crypt exploded, the tombs exposed and relics lost. Nothing of the original architecture survived apart form a few remains like the statue of John Donne. It created a blank slate for Wren to design a new structure in a totally different architectural style
3. The cathedral’s role shifted from medieval ritual and pilgrimage to national ceremony and preaching. Wren’s Protestant design focused on audibility and visibility, creating a space for royal funerals, thanksgiving services and public worship. The fire transformed St Paul’s from a traditional religious centre into a symbol of national identity and unity

Question 8

Typicality of the site

Answer 8

1. It is typical in religious use as St Paul’s holds daily services, Eucharist, and Anglican liturgy, just like cathedrals such as York Minster or Southwark. It serves as the mother church of the Diocese of London, with a bishop, canons, choir, and chaplains. Offers educational visits, online services, and pastoral care — functions mirrored by other Anglican cathedrals.
2. It has hosted state funerals, royal events and national remembrance services. It was described as the “parish church of the nation”, far beyond the role of most other cathedrals. It was also a site of cultural and political moments such as MLK’s sermon and Occupy London protests in 2011. These make it highly atypical
3. Wren’s Baroque design and iconic dome set it apart from the Gothic style of most English cathedrals. Located in the heart of London’s financial district, not a regional centre. One of the most photographed landmarks in the UK with millions of tourists each year, making it architecturally and culturally extraordinary and globally recognised

Question 9

The importance of the whole site, either locally or nationally

Answer 9

1. Served as a religious and social hub - centre for pilgrimage to St Erkenwald’s shrine and a place for scribes, lawyers, and market traders in Paul’s Walk. Paul’s cross was used for royal announcements, sermons and public shaming, showing civic and legal importance. It shaped London life both spiritually and practically, and was located at Ludgate Hill, the highest point in the city
2. Rebuilt by Christopher Wren to become a national symbol of Anglican, monarchy and unity. It hosted major national events such as Nelson’s funeral, Queen Victoria’s diamond jubilee and royal weddings, showing its ceremonial significance. It became a visual and symbolic centre of national pride, especially after surviving the Blitz during WWII
3. American Memorial Chapel and remembrance services show ongoing importance in times of grief and commemoration. It was used for modern issues like MLK’s speech (1964), Occupy London (2011) - linking civil rights to social justice. It remains a key tourist attraction, active place of worship, and architectural landmark, connecting local London life with global attention

Question 10

How far do the physical remains at St Paul’s reveal about attitudes and values in a particular period? (1100-1540)

Answer 10

1. The Shrine of St Erkenwald shows a belief in saintly intercession and miraculous healing - especially for eye diseases. Donations and offerings to the shrine reflect popular acts of devotion across all social classes. Religious pilgrimage was central to medieval life - the presence of other relics further shows strong spiritual belief
2. Paul’s Walk (the nave) was not only used for worship but for socialising, gossip, writing wills and professional meetings - a reflection of how sacred and secular life overlapped. The cathedral’s massive size and elaborate Gothic architecture reflected both religious piety and urban pride - a status symbol for the city. Processions for legal appointments reveal how the church and the legal system were intertwined.
3. Paul’s Cross, the outdoor pulpit, was used to deliver sermons, announce royal decisions and try heretics. This space shows how religion was used to reinforce political control, shape public opinion and display punishment or obedience. Preaching in public also reflects a society where oral tradition and performance were essential tools for moral teaching

Question 11

How the physical remains can inform artistic reconstructions and other interpretations of the site (Reconstruction after the great fire (1670-1711)

Answer 11

1. The dome, with its three structural layers, still survives and provides measurable detail for reconstructions. The use of Portland stone, semi-circular arches and saucer domes in the nave all help replicate Wren’s vision. Remains also reveal his solution to technical challenges - like the iron chain that stabilises the dome - useful in visual reconstructions
2. Surviving carvings, Grinling Gibbons’ choir stalls and Jean Tijou’s wrought iron screens help reconstruct the rich Baroque interior Wren envisioned. The absence of medieval-style stained glass or shrines shows a deliberate break with the past, reflecting Protestant values - this can be emphasised visually. Artists can show how the open layout supported open preaching, not pilgrimage - a key interceptive point
3. The preserved layout of the nave and choir, with a clear processional axis and open sightlines, shows Wren’s emphasis on visibility and hearing - key for Protestant worship. The placement of the high alter and the organ allow reconstructions to show how services would have been experienced. Materials like marble flooring and oak panelling, still present today provide accurate visual cues for reconstructing how the cathedral looked like when it was completed in the early 18th century

Question 12

Challenges and benefits of studying the historic environment

Answer 12

1. Wren’s design survives in full, providing clear structural, artistic and symbolic features to study. Documents like Wren’s plans and correspondance, 17th century sermons and Blitz-era photos support a deep understanding of intention and reception. The survival of some pre-fire elements allows for limited medieval comparison
2. The complete destruction of Old St Paul’s in 1666 limits physical access to its medieval past - we rely on descriptions, drawings and excavations. Some features like the shrine of Erkenwald or Paul’s Cross are only reconstructed from indirect evidence. Later changes complicate understanding of the original design intentions
3. St Paul’s is often viewed through the lens of national symbolism, which can overshadow everyday uses or minority perspectives. Its continued religious and tourist use may lead to selective presentation - not all aspects of its past are highlighted equally. Requires careful interpretation of physical remains alongside wider historical context to avoid misleading conclusions