St. Paul's Cathedral

St. Paul's Cathedral, dedicated to the apostle Paul, has a long history dating back to the 600's. Fires and other catastrophes have destroyed the previous 4 cathedrals. The current cathedral, built in the late 1700's, was designed in English Baroque style. The construction of the latest cathedral took place after the Great Fire of London. The English Baroque style of architecture of the cathedral uses symmetry in all forms to be aesthetically pleasing to the eye. As a major landmark, the cathedral is a national treasure of the city of London. The cathedral still holds regular services for the London population and tourists alike. A key highlight is St. Paul’s Cathedral choir.

Walking in, I couldn’t help but gasp at the magnitude of the cathedral. Imagining and seeing the inside of such a large cathedral are two totally different things. The incredibly high ceilings, beautiful frescoes, and giant organ all combined together give a sense of opulence, and yet I wouldn’t expect anything less. With the Great Fire of London destroying previous cathedrals, it was only fitting for the new cathedral to be bigger, better, and even more grand than before.

Heading into the archive was an adventure all on its own with the large spiral staircase. When we finally climbed all the stairs we came into a dark, almost foreboding room. There were a few paintings and statues on the walk to the archive, with a large bookcase along the way. Once inside the archive, the doors locked, the real tour began.

The symmetrical room had two levels, with a stair case tucked into a dark corner. Each wall was covered in books. It was this that really captured my attention. The collection of the chapel was amazing, truly something that was priceless. Despite that, it was the architecture that caught my attention. The symmetry of it all, by Christopher Wren’s amazing design, made me fall in love with the cathedral.

Our tour guide, Mr. Wisdom, let us in on the cathedral's history and how they came into their priceless collection. His quiet voice and modest mannerisms seemed to fit quite nicely into the atmosphere of the locked room. It was as if we were being let in on a secret that mustn't be let out. 

The entire experience felt secretive and personal. It was a great way to start our adventures in London and I'm truly grateful for the opportunity we were given. 

http://www.stpauls.co.uk/Cathedral-History/The-Collections/The-Library