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St Paul’s Cathedral Dome | A Gem in London’s Skyline
Contents
St Paul's Cathedral, praised as an ecclesiastical masterpiece, is the seat of the Bishop of London. It is one of London's most stunning sights due to its rich historical past and majestic design. The church has hosted major events ranging from art installations to state funerals and royal weddings. It also contains the world's largest dome, which stands at 366 feet in height.
What is St Paul’s Cathedral?
When crossing across the bridge, St. Paul's Cathedral is a London landmark, the city's highest point, and a Grade-I visual wonder that never gets old. In 1708, the world-famous English Baroque-style cathedral was inaugurated. The cathedral is a functioning church with daily services and hourly prayer. Although a Roman temple consecrated to Diana originally stood on the site, King Aethelberht I built the first Christian cathedral there in 604 CE, which was dedicated to St. Paul. In addition to being an impressive piece of art in and of itself, the cathedral is home to some of the most magnificent art items from various eras of time.
About St Paul's CathedralWho Built St Paul’s Cathedral?
After King Charles II took to the throne, he appointed Sir Christopher Wren as the Surveyor of King’s Works. He would provide suggestions on the repair of the cathedral. However, the Great Fire in 1666 destroyed many churches along with St Paul’s Cathedral. On July 30, 1669, Sir Christopher Wren was officially given the duty of designing a replacement construction. After the fire destroyed the tower, he had to replace it with something that was a bit more modern but just as magnificent as what stood in its place before. He decided to build a dome while utilizing the remnant structure as a scaffold. He drew a plan for the planned dome, indicating that it should span the nave and aisles at the crossing.
St Paul's Cathedral ArchitectureWhat is St Paul’s Cathedral Dome?
Wren was awestruck when he saw Michelangelo's dome at St Peter's Basilica and Mansart's Church of the Val-de-Grâce. Unlike those of St Peter's and Val-de-Grâce, the dome of St Paul's rises in two clearly defined stories of masonry, totaling around 95 feet when combined with a lower unadorned footing. The 3-dome structure allows the inner dome to rise proportionately to the architecture within while still appearing massive and magnificent from the outside. Wren generates variety and strength in the finished structure by putting recesses between the columns in every fourth opening. Both the inner dome and the brick cone that rise inside to support the lantern are buttressed by the peristyle.
Book St Paul's Cathedral TicketsThe Design of St Paul’s Cathedral Dome
The Exterior of St Paul’s Cathedral Dome
The dome, which rises 365 feet to the cross at its pinnacle and dominates views of the city, is the most noteworthy exterior feature. The structure has two ashlar levels over a basement and is encircled by a railing above the upper cornice. In 1718, the balustrade was erected against Wren's wishes. Wren was also faced with the task of adding towers into the design like at St Peter's Basilica. Wren drew inspiration from a classical portico at Val-de-Grâce and incorporated it with two floors and paired columns. The towers stand outside the aisles' breadth, however, they serve as a screen for two chapels directly behind them. The original Wren-designed fencing was demolished in the 1870s.
The Interior of St Paul’s Cathedral Dome
The main space of St Paul’s Cathedral with the nave and the aisles is under the dome. Eight arches span across the nave, aisles, choir and transepts, between each a pendentive that supports the large dome. Wren designed wide arches with coffered vaults to create the divide between the principal areas that lead to the dome and the apse of the choir. The North Choir and the South Choir are the transepts that run north and south of the dome. The dome is erected on a tall drum encircled by pilasters and pierced with windows in threes, separated by eight gilded niches containing sculptures and duplicating peristyle patterns from the exterior. At the time of its completion, St Paul’s Cathedral was ornamented with stone and wood sculptures, most prominently that of Grinling Gibbons, Thornhill’s paintings in the dome, and Jean Tijou’s magnificent metalwork.
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Highlights of St Paul’s Cathedral Dome
The Whispering Gallery
The Whispering Gallery is the cathedral’s standout attraction. The Whispering Gallery is a circular promenade 30 m above the ground that hugs the dome’s base and provides a dizzying view of the cathedral floor far below. The unique design of this gallery can carry the tiniest of sounds anywhere within. Whisper along the curved wall and someone will be able to hear you from elsewhere along the same wall, even on the opposite side!
The Stone Gallery
The Stone Gallery, which is encircled by a balustraded balcony, rises above the peristyle of the dome. On this level, you can find alternating pilasters and rectangular windows situated slightly below the cornice, giving it a light appearance. You need to climb 376 steps to get to this level, but the view of the city and the cathedral floor from the Stone Gallery makes it worth the toil.
The Golden Gallery
The Golden Gallery is located at the top of the cathedral and is accessible via 528 steps from the cathedral level. This is the smallest alley, which encircles the outer dome’s highest point. The views from here are breathtaking, with the River Thames, the Tate Modern, The Shard, and the Globe Theatre among the numerous London landmarks visible.
The Ball and the Lantern
The golden ball and lantern, which sits high above the cathedral dome and is six feet in circumference and can hold ten people, is not open to the public. However, the sight itself adds a bit of grandeur to this world-famous London attraction. The lantern stands at the highest point of the structure providing a mesmerizing view of the city. The ball and cross are about 23 feet tall and weigh about 7 tons.
Frequently Asked Questions About St Paul's Cathedral Dome
Q. What is St Paul's Cathedral dome?
A. After the spire collapse and the Great Fire of 1666, St Paul's Cathedral was in a terrible state. Sir Christopher Wren proposed to rebuild the cathedral and replace the cathedral spire with a beautiful dome like at St Peter's Basilica.
Q. Who built the St Paul's Cathedral dome?
A. Sir Christopher Wren, a famous English architect drew inspiration from Michelangelo's dome at St Peter's Basilica and improved upon its design to build a magnificent dome at St Paul's Cathedral. This dome rises in two levels, a larger outer dome to give it a large and majestic appearance on the outside and a smaller dome within that supports the larger dome and sits atop the cathedral nave.
Q. How many steps are there inside St Paul's Cathedral dome?
A. There are 528 steps in total inside the St Paul's Cathedral dome.
Q. Can I climb the St Paul's Cathedral dome?
A. Yes, you can climb the steps inside St Paul's Cathedral dome. However, make sure that you are certain that you can climb all the 528 steps to get to the top before you start climbing. The entry and exit routes for the dome are separate and you will not be able to return from the same direction if you change your mind mid-way.
Q. What kind of footwear should I wear to climb the St Paul's Cathedral dome?
A. Some steps within the St Paul's Cathedral dome are quite narrow or spiral. Make sure that you're wearing flat and comfortable footwear.
Q. Do I need to get a ticket to climb the St Paul's Cathedral dome?
A. Yes, you will have to book tickets if you want to climb the St Paul's Cathedral dome. Book tickets online
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