Behind the scenes: filming St Paul's Cathedral in London

I thought I'd put together in one post some of the details of the technique and process of creating one of my favorite images of the favorite place in my portfolio - St. Paul's Cathedral.

Location

This is one of the most popular locations to photograph the iconic St Paul's Cathedral - one of London's most recognizable buildings.

Standing at the entrance to “One New Change” (a large office and shopping center), one can create this juxtaposition of baroque and modern architecture, where the glass of the storefronts creates the perfect frame, while at the same time the cathedral remains the central focal point in the frame.

Conditions

This composition will look great in most conditions, but I wanted to use a lot of light and color, and twilight provided the perfect chance to photograph the illuminated St. Paul's Cathedral. Additionally, the ambient lighting from the storefronts on either side helped create a nice vibrant image.

Technical specifications

Shoot as wide as possible from this point; This photo was taken at @10mm using a Sigma 10-20mm lens on a Canon 550D crop sensor. Although this does create some distortion of the architectural glass, it provides maximum performance.

Shooting with a tripod will definitely cause trouble, so I recommend shooting handheld.

Post-processing

I edit 95% of my photos in Lightroom CC - it gives me great flexibility, ease of use and allows me to get the results I expect. I don't do anything complicated with my editing and usually spend about 20 minutes polishing one image.

The main rule I follow is that shooting in RAW means I have the freedom to give the image the look I want, as I can change almost any aspect of the file.

It's not about manipulation, I just want to be able to create a mood and atmosphere in the image that I also want to convey to the viewer. This is the file with some minor changes to exposure, lens correction and straightening:

Those red dots mean there is some highlight, which can be easily adjusted using the Light slider.

Some of the most useful sliders in Lightroom are White Balance and Temperature; this is probably the biggest benefit of shooting in RAW. For this image, I'll move the hue a little to the right to add a hint of purple to the image.

To create the tone of the image, I used a set of Lightroom presets from VSCO FILM 00 (easy to search on Google) as a base, and then adjusted the filter settings to complete the look.

The VSCO toolset is great for enhancing certain aspects of an image, including fading, contrast, and vignetting. A VSCO preset is always used as a basis from which to work in selecting the color scheme that suits you, and always requires additional customization.

From here, it's just a matter of experimenting with contrast, richness and temperature in search of an image that suits your opinion.

A gradient filter was applied to restore some detail in the sky area, as well as at the bottom of the image to reduce the exposure and "close out" the image, bringing the eye to the focal point - St. Paul's Cathedral.

Alternative composition

When I photograph in London I still end up taking a few shots of St Paul's Cathedral. There are many location options and convenient spots from which to take great photos of the cathedral. Why not head up to the rooftop bar One New Change for amazing views of the city and a closer look at St Paul's Cathedral:

Use the impressive Millennium Bridge as a compositional support to frame the cathedral. In the image below I used the Lee Little Stopper filter to create an exposure time of about 2 seconds and blur the people walking on the bridge.

Finally, book a free trip to the Sky Garden at 20 Fenchurch Street for truly breathtaking panoramic views of London.

In the footsteps of Harry Potter in London: magical sights

JK Rowling's fairy tale about the wizard Harry Potter has captivated the whole world. For many years now, fans of the saga have been re-reading the books and re-watching the films in the hope of a continuation. And some Potter lovers go on a trip to see with their own eyes the real prototypes of magical places.

London in Rowling's world was the core of the magical world - Gringotts Bank, the headquarters of the Order of the Phoenix, the Ministry of Magic, and Diagon Alley were located here. Or maybe the writer is right, and there really is a magical world hiding on the streets of the capital of Great Britain?

To find out, you need to go to the Harry Potter filming locations!

Reptile House, London Zoo

Remember the scene in the first film where the Dursleys are forced to take Harry with them to the zoo? There he first discovers the gift of speaking with snakes and releases a huge python from his terrarium.

So, this moment was filmed in the Reptile House at London Zoo. However, this amazing place is a must-visit not only for Harry Potter, because there are a lot of rare animals here.

Lambeth Bridge

Lambeth Bridge flashes on the screen more than once. The most striking is when Harry boards the Night Knight bus while escaping the Dursleys' house at the beginning of the third film. The bus, jumping from place to place, leaves Lambeth Bridge and reaches the Leaky Cauldron.

During filming of this segment, traffic on the bridge was closed for eight nights. The bridge could be seen again in the first part, when Harry and Hagrid arrive in London.

King's Cross Station

The famous King's Cross Station! It was here that the fascinating journey of an ordinary boy Harry into the world of magic began.

Platform 9 ¾ is a must-see for Potter fans. This actually exists, it is located between platforms 4 and 5. There is a cart with suitcases, a cage and even scarves from the four houses! You can also find a Harry Potter store nearby, which has everything for Potter lovers.

Piccadilly, Shaftesbury Avenue

In the final part of the saga, Ron, Harry and Hermione escape from the wedding from the Death Eaters and transgress to Piccadilly Circus.

The friends landed near the turnoff on Shaftesbury Avenue, and it's safe to go for a walk here. There they go to the Trocadero arcade, which has changed a little after renovation. This square is one of London's most important attractions.

Millennium Bridge

At the beginning of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, the Death Eaters destroy the Millennium Bridge. This attraction can be visited in London, because the bridge remains intact.

There was an interesting story connected with the Millennium Bridge - it was opened in 2000, but was soon closed because due to crowds of people and strong winds on the opening day, it began to sway. The builders had to strengthen the structure again. Perhaps this inspired the filmmakers to use it in the frame.

Leadenhall Market

The magical bar “Leaky Cauldron” was created from several images. In the first film of the saga, Leadenhall Market served as its prototype. In order to see the entrance to the bar itself, you need to find pavilion 42 on Bull's Head Passage.

True, the optics are located here, there is no butterbeer, but there are glasses. You can buy it like Harry's! And if you are not interested in glasses, you can simply stroll through the streets of this covered market. It is one of the most beautiful buildings of the Victorian era.

Westminster tube station

The scene where Harry Potter and Mr. Weasley go to the hearing at the Ministry of Magic was filmed at Westminster tube station. The turnstiles there are exactly the same as in the film.

This moment can be refreshed in your memory by watching the fifth part of the saga “Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix”. There are rumors that this station was closed for a day for the filming of the film, although it is very important!

Borough Market

Another prototype of the “Leaky Cauldron” is Borough Market at 7 Stoney Street. He can be seen in the third part of the saga, when Harry gets off the Night Knight bus and meets the Minister of Magic Fudge.

True, in real life there is no bar here, only flower shops. By the way, Borough Market has already appeared several times in films - for example, in the melodrama Bridget Jones's Diary.

Australian Embassy

The interior of the Australian Embassy in London was used as Gringotts Bank. The first look at this majestic building, built by King George V in 1918, brings to mind images of goblins.

Unfortunately, you won’t be able to visit inside - you can only get to the embassy on official business. But from the outside it looks like it’s from a magical world!

St Pancras Station

A couple of minutes from King's Cross station there is St Pancras Station, which can be seen in the second part of the saga. Remember how Harry and Ron flew to Hogwarts in Mr. Weasley's Ford? So they take off just against the backdrop of this wonderful architectural structure.

Thus, King's Cross Station from the world of Harry Potter actually consists of two real stations - the station itself inside and St Pancras outside.

Claremont Square

The moment where Harry and the Order of the Phoenix first see the house at Grimmauld Place was filmed in Claremont Square. In the middle of this square there is a hill overgrown with grass, from which the heroes descended to the house. Since this is a private property, filming of the house itself took place in the studio in front of a model that completely imitated the gloomy building.

St Paul's Cathedral

One of the main attractions of London, St. Paul's Cathedral, also appears in the saga. The cathedral's spiral staircase can be seen in the film Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. It leads to the office of divination.

A visit to St. Paul's Cathedral is a must, because it is one of the masterpieces of architect Christopher Wren.

Great Scotland Yard

The entrance to the Ministry of Magic in Harry Potter Chapter 7 is located at Great Scotland Yard. You can even see the place through Ron's eyes as he peeks around the corner.

They immediately filmed a scene in which the trio takes a polyjuice potion and ends up in the Ministry of Magic under the guise of employees. And also footage of Harry walking into the Ministry with Mr. Weasley.

London studio Warner Bros.

Well, the pearl of Harry Potter's walk through London is the Warner Bros. studio, where this masterpiece was created. Here you can see everything with your own eyes and touch the props, the living heroes of the world of JK Rowling and Hogwarts.

Also in Watford (a suburb of London), where this studio is located, you can see an amusement park, a gift shop and a themed museum. We warn you - the amount of magic here is off the charts!

The wonderful world of Harry Potter is closely connected with London, which is why this city is a favorite place for Potter lovers. Here you can find everything related to your favorite characters from books and films.

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St Paul's Cathedral (London)

England is a country of strict morals, immensely prim and proper. This is reflected not only in the mentality of people, but also in the world-famous sights of the state. For several centuries, St. Paul's Cathedral in London has been called the embodiment of the British national heritage. It is one of the capital's main architectural relics and an instantly recognizable religious site. The large-scale structure is second only to the Liverpool Cathedral in area, and in the beauty of its exterior and interior decoration it is significantly superior to any Anglican church. Saint Paul is, of course, the hallmark of the city, constantly appearing on souvenirs and in tourism materials.

Historical reference

October 1708 is given as the official opening date of St. Paul's Cathedral. Few people know that the modern structure of the State Church of England is already the fifth version erected at the highest point in England at the top of Langate Hill. The history of Saint Paul begins in 604. From surviving documents it is known that its construction was carried out by King Saberth with the active support of the priest Mellitus, whom he appointed bishop of the kingdom. The wooden temple existed for almost 70 years, burned down in 675, and was immediately reborn from the ashes. The new church survived until 961 and fell out of favor with the Vikings, who wanted to reconquer British territories.

The third Cathedral of St. Paul summoned parishioners to worship with the ringing of bells already in 962. Stone was now used for construction. However, it was also consumed by fire during a large-scale fire, which were not uncommon on the London streets of that time.

The fourth St. Paul's Cathedral appeared in London in 1087. It was possible to complete it only after 153 years - the religious place was consecrated only in 1240. Over the next century, the church was rebuilt several times, changing the Romanesque style of architecture to Gothic. The building turned out to be huge. Its length was 180 m, and the height of the spire was truly grandiose for medieval London - 149 m.

In the following centuries, St. Paul continued to be destroyed. Numerous interior elements of St. Paul's Cathedral underwent changes or were completely destroyed during the years of the reformation of the Catholic Church. In 1561, the huge spire caught fire from a lightning strike, and during the reign of the English Republic by Oliver Cromwell, the church began to be dismantled for the construction of the palace of the Protector King. In the early autumn of 1666, a 4-day fire in London incinerated more than 12 thousand houses, 90 churches, and St. Paul's Cathedral was among them.

Within 2 years, the Bishops of Oxford, Canterbury and London decided to restore the shrine. The outstanding mechanic and mathematician Christopher Wren was chosen as the architect, instructing him to create a cathedral that silently glorifies the nation. Work on the project took several years, the last stone was laid in the wall only in 1708, and the official completion of construction was announced on Christmas night 1711. Christopher Wren saw his creation in all its glory, which was the highest reward for an architect.

St Paul's Cathedral holds a special place in the British consciousness. Important services are held within the walls of the majestic religious building, for example, the wedding of Prince Charles and Diana; the residence of the Bishop of London is located here. The beauty of its facades delights both residents of England and guests of the country.

Video about the history of the construction of St. Paul's Cathedral

Architectural features

Did you know that there is a law prohibiting the construction of buildings near St. Paul's Cathedral that would block the view of its walls? This is necessary so that everyone interested can consider the complexity of the architectural design. To implement his project, Christopher Wren resorted to an unconventional combination of a variety of materials and came up with bold engineering designs that still delight world experts in the field of urban planning. Today, St. Paul's Cathedral is recognized as an outstanding example among all domed structures in Europe.

Until the 60s of the last century, Saint Paul was considered the tallest building on the capital's streets. Towering over the city, St. Paul's Cathedral in London is 111 meters or 365 feet tall. It mixed Baroque and Classic, English Gothic and medieval architectural traditions. Christopher Wren, who is the architect of the famous St. Paul's Cathedral, thought through every detail to make the structure truly reliable and impressive.

The outstanding architect, while working on the English shrine, used the most modern construction achievements and techniques of the time:

the dome of the cathedral is supported by 8 columns;
the tomb of St. Paul is located under the entire area of the building;
the weight of the dome ceilings is redistributed to the flying buttresses built into the walls.

Interesting fact! The new building, thanks to the highest architectural skill of Mr. Wren and his assistants, was not damaged even during the Second World War.

Interior

Having visited Saint Paul for the first time, tourists are delighted. The interior of the religious building is worthy of the highest praise. Here, the space under the dome is decorated with frescoes by Thornhill, and a unique mosaic of Venetian glass, created back in 1860, has been preserved near the altar. It depicts birds, animals and flowers. The altar itself is decorated with gilding; in the center you can see a crucifix and sculptures depicting saints.

Interesting facts about St. Paul's Cathedral in London

St. Paul's Cathedral in London is a pearl of the English Baroque. It can rightfully be considered not only a temple dedicated to the Apostle Paul, but also a monument to itself, because the building is already the fifth cathedral built on the same place. How successful was this attempt No. 5?

St Paul's Cathedral in London (source – Unsplash)

History of St Paul's Cathedral in London

Back in 604, the first cathedral dedicated to the Apostle Paul appeared, and fate gave it a little more than 70 years - the wooden temple burned down in a fire. A decade later, a stone cathedral was built on this site, but the restless Vikings destroyed it during a raid in 961. At that time, they were still pagans, so the destruction of St. Paul's Cathedral in London was a kind of symbol of the consolidation of power.

With surprising efficiency for the Middle Ages, the cathedral was rebuilt within a year, but it soon burned down again. At the end of the 11th century, the construction of a new temple began in earnest. Its dimensions exceeded all expectations: about 30 meters wide, 180 meters long, and the height of the spire reached one and a half hundred meters. However, history is inexorable - already in 1666, a fire in London sent this architectural example “to the oven.” It's time for the fifth try.

Oxford professor of mathematics, creator of a new style - Wren classicism, and part-time architect of St. Paul's Cathedral in London - Sir Christopher Wren, undertook to reconstruct the center of London after the fire. He managed to restore 50 churches in the city out of 87 that burned down. But his main architectural “benefit” was the plan for St. Paul’s Cathedral in London.

It took 35 years to build this giant, designed in the image and likeness of St. Peter's Basilica in Rome. At first, the new St. Paul was planned to be built without its famous dome, and only after protests from the clergy and the king was this grandiose element added to the project, increasing the level of recognition of the London skyline. And you can admire it thanks to the external galleries of the cathedral.

The dome of the cathedral, designed by Wren, reaches the sky with its spire (source - Unsplash)

St. Paul's Cathedral in London - architecture and interior decoration

St. Paul's Cathedral in London is no less interesting inside. One of his galleries is called “the kind that whispers”: its acoustic features are such that any word, even spoken to oneself, can be clearly heard anywhere in the gallery. Physicists even conducted scientific experiments with acoustic waves here. The peculiarity is that the sound does not reach places located outside the gallery. The impressions from such communication cannot be expressed in words. The gallery has become a special place for lovers, because it is a great chance to whisper everything that you don’t dare say out loud.

The mathematician’s project turned out to be timeless, just like science itself. What is surprising is that the massive silhouette of St. Paul's Cathedral in London pompously towered over the city both in the 18th century, when houses were low, and now. Among the skyscrapers that almost “scratch” the atmospheric layer, St. Paul has not lost its grandeur. Even Luftwaffe attacks could not damage the dome designed by Sir Wren. The grave of the architect of St. Paul's Cathedral in London, buried on its grounds, is devoid of a monument. Instead, the tombstone has a laconic inscription: “Reader, if you are looking for a monument, just look around .

Exterior of St. Paul's Cathedral (source – Unsplash)

Baroque is a vain style; minimalism does not suit it. But the cathedral built by Sir Christopher was Anglican, that is, Protestant. And who else but the first Protestants, led by the fearless Martin Luther, proclaimed the idea of a “cheap church”? Therefore, no matter how hard the esthete architect tried to convince the clergy that beautiful statues would only emphasize the greatness of the temple, the “ascetic party” gained the upper hand. But the final victory still remained with the majestic architecture - much later after Wren’s death, an entire funding fund was created to decorate St. Paul.

The interior of the cathedral “bloomed” with wonderful mosaics, carved benches of amazingly fine workmanship, openwork grilles reminiscent of lace and, of course, statues. Today, St. Paul's Cathedral in London bears little resemblance to modest Anglican churches - it is a building of grandiose beauty, without which London is difficult to imagine.

5 interesting facts about the cathedral

There are many interesting facts about St. Paul's Cathedral in London. Over its long history of destruction and restoration, it has witnessed many significant events. The funerals of Admiral Nelson and Winston Churchill were held here, and it was here that the marriage of Prince Charles and the people's favorite Lady Diana Spencer took place.

1. More than 200 prominent British people are buried here.
Admiral Nelson, the Duke of Wellington, John Donne, Sir Alexander Fleming and about 200 other famous Britons are buried on the cathedral grounds in the company of its talented architect, who created a new face for the capital destroyed by fire.

2. St. Paul's Cathedral in London can be seen in the films about Harry Potter and Mary Poppins.
Saint Paul inspires not only ordinary visitors, but also filmmakers. The world-famous film “Mary Poppins” was once filmed here, and later this place appeared in several parts of the magical sequel “Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban” and “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.” In 2009, the temple became a filming location for “Sherlock Holmes”, and in 2013 for “Star Trek”.

3. St. Paul's Cathedral stands on the highest hill in London.
The temple owes its beautiful view of the city to its special location. It is located on Ludgate hill. This is the highest point in the capital. That is why numerous London skyscrapers do not block the luxurious façade of the cathedral.

4. Martin Luther King preached a sermon in the temple.
Priest John Collins invited Martin King to give a sermon to the church parishioners about the Three Dimensions of Fullness of Life. In 1964, more than 4 thousand believers became its listeners.

5. The suffragette movement tried to blow up the temple.
Suffragism was a popular movement for women's freedom in the 19th century. In 1913, in the fight for equal voting rights, its representatives planned to detonate a bomb planted under the temple. Fortunately, it did not work and the cathedral survived.

One of the main attractions of London is St. Paul's Cathedral, built in honor of the Apostle Paul. You can see it from almost every part of the city. Today it is the residence of the Bishop of London. The history of the cathedral dates back more than three centuries.

The appearance of the cathedral is striking in its thoughtful proportions and harmonious combination of details. The interior decoration is cold and simple. It was made in accordance with the canons of the Protestant Church: here you will not see lush stucco molding with gilding. The true decoration of the cathedral was the wonderful stone carvings, magnificent stained glass windows and wooden benches.

The leading role in the cathedral is played by the organ, which has accompanied every service since the end of the 17th century: it is one of the oldest and best in England.

How to get to the Cathedral?

Any passerby in the city will tell you about this, but it’s better to know in advance.

Address: Churchyard, ES 4 (St. Pauls metro station). You can get to it either during a sightseeing bus tour of the city or by taxi. If you are traveling by car (you can rent a car, for example, here), a navigator will help; it seems to be the easiest option.

Useful information for visiting

During special events, the cathedral is closed to the general public. Free entry is only available during Sunday services. From Monday to Saturday it welcomes guests from 8:30 to 17:00. But be sure to do it before 16:00, as the ticket office closes at that time. There are changes in the schedule, for example, on September 25 the cathedral is open from 10:15 to 16:00, and on October 3 from 12:30 to 16:00, check this in advance.

You must pay £20 per adult and £8.50 per child ticket (under 18 years old). The most attractive option is to buy a family ticket for 4 - only £48.50. Children under 6 years old will enjoy the spectacle completely free of charge. You can avoid the queue at the ticket office by purchasing a special pass ticket, the bonus of which will be a multimedia guide; purchase details can be found at this link.

A week before Christmas, magnificent services begin in the cathedral with the singing of hymns. The impressions from your visit at this time will be the most vivid. Londoners come here with families, continuing a centuries-old tradition.

When going on an excursion to St. Paul's Cathedral, you should not take video and photographic equipment with you; filming is prohibited here.

Time has been kind to the cathedral; even the past wars have not affected it. And after a large-scale reconstruction carried out in the early 2000s, St. Paul's Cathedral once again shone in all its glory.

St Paul's Cathedral, London

The length of this building is 158 meters, maximum width - 75 m, height - 111 m.

Less known are the “predecessors” of this Council, who consistently stood on the same
spot for many centuries.

There is relatively little information about the first of them.

The first Cathedral, built in 604, was made of wood and was destroyed by fire in 675.

The second St. Paul's Cathedral was already made of stone.
Built in 685, it stood for almost three centuries and was destroyed in 961 during a Viking raid on London.

The next, third Cathedral was built on the same site the following year;
it had stone walls, but nevertheless burned down during the great fire of London in 1087.

But the fourth Cathedral, known as “Old Saint Paul” (or “Saint Paul before the Great Fire”),
has been preserved in human memory and in images much better.
Founded in 1087 and consecrated in 1240, it was one of the largest cathedrals in Europe at that time.
length was about 180 meters, width - 70 meters, spire height - almost 150 meters;
that is, it was longer and (thanks to the high spire) taller than the modern cathedral.

This is what this building looked like in its best years:

Model of this cathedral made by JB Thorpe in 1908 (photo by Steven G. Johnson):

The interior of the Cathedral was impressive. John Franklin painting:

From a painting by Wenceslaus Hollar:

For centuries, the fourth St. Paul's Cathedral was the most important center of religious, political
and social life in London. But centuries passed, and gradually the building fell into disrepair.

On June 4, 1561, a lightning strike and fire destroyed the spire;
they never got around to restoring it. The religious reforms of Henry VIII, accompanied by the dissolution of monasteries and the destruction
of interior decoration and frescoes in churches, as well as the Civil War in England, also did not
contribute to the preservation of the building and maintaining it in a worthy form.

At the end of the Civil War and after the restoration of the monarchy, the Cathedral was finally taken
seriously, entrusting the drafting and restoration plan to Christopher Wren.
At one time they considered the issue of demolishing the building and building a new Cathedral, but in the end they settled
on major repairs and restoration.

However, it was not possible to carry it out: along with a significant part of the city, the Cathedral burned down during
the Great Fire of London on September 2-5, 1666.

Although some experts believed that it was possible to restore the Cathedral after the fire,
in the end a decision was made to demolish it (which was a novelty for those years,
during the work detonations of gunpowder charges were used) and to build a new Cathedral on this site
- in a new way. project by Christopher Wren.

We see it in our time in photos, videos, or with our own eyes - when visiting London.

St Paul's Cathedral in London

Londinium (the Latin name for London) required a dominant that would glorify the city and give Christianity the status of the main religion. The bishop crowned the kings. The cathedral was planned as a coronation site, and at the end of the road - as a luxurious tomb. St. Paul's Cathedral in London was destined to become a religious and national symbol, the starting point of the reign of monarchs.

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Story

The Anglo-Saxon king Sabert, baptized in 604, gave the order to build a church in honor of the Apostle Paul. After the king passed away, his sons refused to accept Christianity. Britain has become pagan again. The wooden church, built on the banks of the Thames, burned down in 675. However, at the end of the 7th century, the new religion of Rome returned to the island. The Sabert Church was restored twice; exactly the same amount of what was built disappeared in the flames of fires (962 and 1087).

The Normans, who owned London in 1087, undertook to restore the temple, continuing the history of the so-called Old St. Pavel. Fire again interfered with the plans: the unfinished building was damaged by a fire in 1136. Almost a hundred years later, in 1240, the construction of the temple was completed. A curiosity of extended construction: the Romanesque style was replaced by the Gothic style. The cathedral, which had begun to function, required immediate reconstruction in order to meet the requirements of the Universal Church.

From 1314 to 1561, London was decorated with a cathedral of incredible length - 178 m. Medieval engravers testified to the greatness of the second tallest building in Albion (149 m). Until the 19th century the exact location of the cathedral was not known. Only after archaeological excavations in 1878 did it become finally clear that the New Cathedral of St. Paul was built on the foundations of the old one, but with some displacement.

Construction of the modern St. Paul's Cathedral

During the Reformation period (second quarter of the 16th century), services in the Old Cathedral ceased.
The abbey's property is confiscated for the benefit of the royal treasury. The interior decoration was destroyed, church utensils were looted. The lightning strike of the spire (occurred in 1561) was perceived by the residents of London as a sign from above. Therefore, the decline of the Old Catholic Cathedral was inevitable, it was accelerated by dismantling the brickwork to build Lord Cromwell's palace. 1630s.

The new Church of England requires a creed. The western façade in the classical style is being added to the dilapidated nave. In July 1668, the mathematician Christopher Wren, attracted by the episcopate, submitted the first project designed to “exalt the glory of the city and the nation,” but the proposal was rejected. Only the third version of 1675 received approval.

Having introduced a royal tax on coal, the authorities are calling for civilians to develop the quarries of the island. Portland (North Channel).

The narrow isthmus between the island and Britain was quickly turned into a causeway. The man-made isthmus became the source of the most durable limestone on the islands. Capitals, column bodies, window openings, niches, massive architraves, and foundation blocks were made from Portland stone. The same stone was used for cladding. It was also useful for carving most of the sculptures of the New Cathedral. Saint Apostle Paul.

19 years after the consecration, services began. The last fragment was laid in October 1708. In another 3 years there will be an official announcement of the complete completion of construction. The last stage of finishing work on the exterior is considered to be the installation of parapet sculptures (1720s). The interior decoration of the cathedral continued for another two centuries.

The names of the masters have been preserved: Francis Bird (carved the bas-relief of the pediment, the font, sculptures of saints and angels), Grinling Gibbons worked on the wooden sculptures of the choirs, the dome was painted by James Thornhill, the forging was done by Jean Tihou, the mosaics of the “sails” between the arches were designed by Sir William Richmond, the altar, chandeliers are the work of Steven Bauer and Gottfred Allen.

Design Features and Style

The 111-meter dome (the highest dome is the Roman Cathedral of St. Peter and St. Paul with an unsurpassed height of 136 m) is a challenge from the Anglican Church to the Catholic Church. But in England they did not yet know how to build like the great Michelangelo. However, the Cathedral of St. Paul is striking in its scale (it remained the tallest building in London until the 50s of the 20th century).

The architect Christopher Wren used for his brainchild all the construction achievements known at that time:

redistribution of the weight of the dome ceilings to flying buttresses built into the thickness of the walls
metal frames to reduce the weight of the structure (implemented to support the internal dome on the intermediate brick dome)
increasing the mass in the “top-bottom” direction to give buildings stability

Flying buttresses were taken from Gothic construction, but they were cleverly hidden behind sheer walls. The three-layer dome was built according to the model of Brunelleschi from Florence. But the Florentine has 2 shells, so there is a certain ribbing of the sphere. Christopher Wren's lead dome can be compared to a glove thrown onto a cactus: multiple steel beams extend from the dome's intermediate masonry and support the molded lead finish.

The supermassive crypt (tomb) of the lowest, underground tier is made with a special margin of safety along the entire perimeter - in case of unexpected behavior of groundwater in the shifting sands of the London embankment. Frequent flutes (grooves and their returns) that do not reach the bottom of the dome drum - they are sometimes called Wagnerian - allow us to attribute the structure to the Baroque style.

Signs of “Baroque” are the round windows of the belfry towers, balustrades along the contour of the roofs, arched niches, also “bracing” (i.e., projections of the cornices of window openings), 12-sided plans of the towers, and also rich ornaments without rigid geometry. Ren used completely non-canonical pea pods, sunflowers, and corn cobs in his decorations - he boldly took risks and to please the rebel king, teasing both Rome and the Pope.

The cathedral with its porticoes and acanthuses on the columns could be considered an example of classical architecture, if not for the play of forms inherent in the Baroque style. The interior decoration also testifies to the author’s commitment to the Romanesque and Byzantine styles. The creator of the English neo-baroque rests in the crypt, the first to be buried in it. Wren is one of the few great architects who lived to see the completion of construction on a national scale. The message bequeathed on the slab “Look around - I am everywhere” is now being read by visitors to the Cathedral of St. Pavel.

Dome (exterior)

The gigantic mass of the dome rests on the peristyle, which is perceived by the audience as a light, elegant structure. The effect was achieved thanks to paired pilasters and pseudo-windows. The drum of the dome rests on the so-called “stone gallery”, which is nothing more than a ring of flying buttresses disguised as a rotunda, but not passable through. The drum with the visible part of the dome covers a strict cone made of brickwork, on which the internal interior dome is “suspended”. In order for the cone to fit between the two shells, the shape of the dome was not made strictly spherical - it was elongated.

The many windows above the balustrade are functional: it is thanks to them that the built-in brick cone is illuminated. Next, light from special round holes falls on eight internal windows. The slots at the pole of the sphere are also used. They are glazed horizontal hatches. The dome is completed by a top - laterna - consisting of a tier of so-called. Golden Gallery (530 steps lead to the observation deck of the gallery). The second tier is made in the form of a tiny tempietto temple. Above the dome of the laterna is the Golden Cross of the Savior.

Dome (interior)

Eight ceiling windows form a beam of light directed towards the floor. It symbolizes the Holy Spirit. The painting of the dome using the grisaille technique (without color) is divided into eight parts.

Subject: between the paired columns of the rotunda, the milestones of the life and deeds of St. Paul the Apostle are depicted. The Pharisaic Paul was blinded for unbelief. Hearing the reproaches of Christ, Paul, who was baptized, was healed after a pilgrimage to Damascus. Paul's sermon about Christ in the synagogue, his trip to Cyprus and the enlightenment of the proconsul Sergius with his help are illustrated. The last painting shows Paul's death at the hands of the Romans on the cross.

The golden painting is complemented by gilded ornaments of the dome ring, so it seems to be a continuation of the decoration of the main nave. The blue dominant color of the mosaics forms a single background with the azure of the sky in the windows. The dome appears to be floating. The presence of eight bas-reliefs of saints made of stone seems absolutely incredible here. They are carved on the edges of the flying buttresses, and therefore are slightly inclined towards the middle cross.