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The Old St Paul’s Cathedral | A historical overview

Built atop Ludgate Hill centuries ago, was the Old St Paul’s Cathedral. It was the fourth church constructed on this site until the Great Fire of London in 1666 destroyed most of it. Here’s a detailed guide on the history of the Old St. Paul’s Cathedral, its significance, and what led to the construction of the current cathedral.

About the Old St Paul’s Cathedral

the old st paul's cathedral

The Old St Paul’s Cathedral was built between 1087 and 1314 as a dedication to Paul the Apostle. The construction took over 200 years to complete, briefly delayed by a fire in 1135. During the mid-1300s, work was finally completed, and the Cathedral was the most stunning building of its time. Unfortunately, the Great Fire of London destroyed most of the church in 1666, until which time it was the tallest church in Great Britain and the third largest one in all of Europe. It was destroyed so severely that almost nothing of the old church remains today.

About the current St Paul's Cathedral

History of the Old St Paul’s Cathedral explained

604 AD: Construction of the first St Paul's Cathedral

In 604 AD, King Æthelberht of Kent founded and funded the inaugural St. Paul's Cathedral as the seat for Mellitus, the first Bishop of London. A modest wooden edifice, this original structure served as a vital cornerstone for Christian worship on Ludgate Hill before tragically burning to the ground around 675 AD.

675 AD: Construction of the second church

Following the destruction of the original wooden church, a second cathedral was constructed in 675 AD. This version was built using more robust stone materials under the guidance of Saint Erkenwald (the Bishop of London). It stood as a major religious centre for nearly three centuries until it was completely destroyed during a devastating Viking raid on London in 961 AD.

962 AD: Construction of the third church

Following the Viking incursions, a third cathedral was rapidly constructed on the site in 962 AD. Built primarily of stone, this version served late Anglo-Saxon Londoners for over a century and became the final resting place of King Ethelred the Unready before it was entirely levelled by a city-wide fire in 1087.

1087: Norman foundation of the fourth church (Old St. Paul's)

Following the catastrophic fire of 1087, Bishop Maurice (chaplain to William the Conqueror) commissioned a massive new cathedral. This monumental construction, which would take over 200 years to fully complete, marked the birth of the legendary Old St. Paul's Cathedral, designed to dominate London's skyline for nearly six centuries.

1135: The Great Fire delay

In 1135, a fierce fire swept through London and severely damaged the partially built Norman structure. This setback significantly delayed work, testing the resilience and architectural adaptability of medieval craftsmen as styles slowly transitioned from Romanesque to Gothic.

1240: Consecration of the cathedral

By 1240, the core structure and its soaring new steeple were formally consecrated by Bishop Roger Niger. Standing as one of the tallest structures in the medieval world, the cathedral quickly evolved beyond religion to become a vibrant, bustling hub for London’s civic life, legal affairs, and commerce.

1561: Destruction of the iconic spire

In 1561, disaster struck when a violent lightning bolt set fire to the grand wooden and lead steeple, causing it to collapse through the roof. Due to economic hardships and an overarching trade depression during the Elizabethan era, the cathedral was never rebuilt with its signature spire.

1630s: Inigo Jones and the English Civil War

In the 1630s, England’s first classical architect, Sir Inigo Jones, began a sweeping restoration and added a grand classical West Front. However, work ground to a halt with the outbreak of the English Civil War. Parliamentarian forces occupied the building, clearing out its decorations and infamously using the historic nave as a cavalry stable for 800 horses.

1666: The Great Fire of London

Already weakened by decades of neglect and civil conflict, Old St. Paul's Cathedral was entirely gutted by the historic Great Fire of London in 1666. Rather than trying to restore the colossal medieval ruins, officials commissioned Sir Christopher Wren to build the present-day masterpiece in the English Baroque style.

At a glance: Old St. Paul's vs. today's cathedral

FeatureOld St. Paul's Cathedral (4th church)Present-day St. Paul's Cathedral (5th church)

Architectural style

Norman Romanesque & Gothic

English Baroque

Primary architect

Bishop Maurice (Evolutionary construction)

Sir Christopher Wren

Defining silhouette

Towering wooden & lead spire

Iconic stone & lead-covered dome

Record height

~489 feet (149 meters) to top of spire

365 feet (111 meters) to top of cross

Length

585 feet (178 meters)

518 feet (158 meters)

Historical core

'Paul's Walk' (Nave marketplace)

The Whispering Gallery & crypt

The interiors of the Old St Paul’s Cathedral

Aerial view of St. Paul's Cathedral in London with the city skyline and River Thames.

After its completion in the 1300s, Old St. Paul’s Cathedral was one of the most elegant and imposing churches in all of Europe. Spanning approximately 585 feet in length and 100 feet in width, its architecture was a striking blend of Romanesque (Norman) foundations and later Gothic expansions. The crown jewel of its exterior was a magnificent wooden and lead spire. Before it was destroyed by lightning in 1561, the steeple reputedly soared to a height between 460 and 489 feet (140 to 149 meters), making it the tallest church in Great Britain and significantly taller than Sir Christopher Wren’s modern 365-foot dome.

Inside, the cathedral's most famous feature was its massive nave, featuring a Norman triforium and a beautifully vaulted ceiling. Over time, this space evolved far beyond religion to become known as 'Paul’s Walk'. In the 16th and 17th centuries, the nave transformed into a bustling secular marketplace, a public thoroughfare, a hub for political gossip, and a renowned market for London's booksellers.

The cathedral's stained glass windows were also celebrated as some of the finest craftsmanship in the country. Legendary poet Geoffrey Chaucer explicitly highlighted their intricate beauty in The Miller’s Tale within The Canterbury Tales:

His rode was red, his eyen grey as goose,

With Paule’s windows carven on his shoes
In hosen red he went full fetisly.

Explore the breathtaking interiors of the modern building

St Paul’s Cathedral today

st paul's cathedral tickets

The new St Paul’s Cathedral is a marvellous structure dominating the skyline of London. It is the second-largest church in the city, with the tallest dome in the world. St Paul’s is one of the most important churches in the country, having held services marking the end of the First and Second World Wars, the funerals of Winston Churchill and Margaret Thatcher, and even the wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana. Aside from this, public services are held at the church daily.

Plan your visit to St Paul's Cathedral

Echoes of the past: What to look for today

While the medieval icon was lost to the ashes of 1666, pieces of Old St. Paul's still live on inside Sir Christopher Wren's masterpiece. When you visit, keep an eye out for these historical remnants:

  • The crypt & St. Faith's Chapel: Head down to the cathedral crypt to find the Chapel of St. Faith. In the medieval era, this was a completely separate church tucked underneath Old St. Paul's, where local parishioners worshipped.
  • The resurrected phoenix: Look above the South Door to find a magnificent phoenix carved into the stone with the Latin word Resurgam ("I shall rise again"). Architect Christopher Wren ordered this carved out of a charred piece of gravestone salvaged directly from the ruins of the old cathedral.
  • The Martyr's Monument: Look for the modern monument dedicated to Saint Erkenwald, the 7th-century Bishop of London whose original shrine inside Old St. Paul's was once a major destination for medieval pilgrims.

Experience London's living history

While the legendary medieval spire is long gone, you can stand on the exact ground where six centuries of history unfolded. Plan your trip ahead of time and secure your entry.

Frequently asked questions about the Old St Paul's Cathedral

The building that stands in the place of Old St Paul's Cathedral no longer has the same design. However, a model of it is available at the Museum of London. You can still visit the current St Paul's Cathedral building and marvel at its beautiful architecture while you imagine the magnificence of the spire that no longer exists.