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Elizabethan England

There are many great Cathedrals in the world. One of them is St. Paul's Cathedral in London. After the huge fire that nearly destroyed the city of London in 1666, St. Paul's was restored by the great Sir Christopher Wren.

In 1620, Inigo Jones, one of the first great architects of the Renaissance period, was appointed "Surveyor of Works." Jones was told by King James I to get the restoration of the great cathedral on its way. However, the project soon ran out of money because of the architect's decision to use imported stones from Portland. In 1628, William Laud, under Charles I, began a second attempt at restoring the Cathedral. Five years later,in 1633, with no money for the restoration, the Archbishop of Canterbury ceaselessly reprimanded the British Clergy and persuaded them to raise funds. Coal taxes were levied just for the cause of the church's face lift. Fines were given out for adultery, incest, and swearing, and all the money from the fines went to restore St. Paul's. Tragically, however, 1666 a great fire struck London, and the cathedral was destroyed.

In 1675, Wren took over the restoration of the church. Wren was one of the greater architects of this time period. Using many new techniques, still foreign to many architects of the period, Wren turned around the church's fate. The cathedral displays many great architectural qualities, many of which were used for the first time, such as Wren's screen walls give the cathedral's exterior an extraordinary cohesiveness. Wren's work also is derived from the styles of other artists such as Michelangelo, Bramante, and the new-age Renaissance. Wren's ideas for the cathedral evolved over many years. He came up with many great ideas for St. Paul's, but many of his designs were never built. Wren finished his work on the cathedral in 1710. It now stands the masterpiece of the architect's grace.

One of the most favored and amazing features of the new and improved church was the dome. The church's huge dome towers were about 365 feet tall. Wren created an inner and outer dome constructed like two layers of an onion skin.

The dome is divided into four stages from the outside supporting dome. The design took great skill. Wren's architectural design also required that the dome rest on eight piers. He created a maximum wealth internally and a distinctive external silhouette that has since become a London landmark.

Wren went on to complete fifty more cathedrals during his lifetime. His grace reflects in all of these churches. St. Paul's Cathedral is now one of the most famous churches in the world. Many tourist come to see the great Cathedral, which still stands in the crowded streets of London.

Burton, Elizabeth. The Pageant of England. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1967.

This book was helpful; it gives good details on Wren and how he wanted to rebuild London.

*Chean, Fredrick. Great Cathedrals. New York: Golden Press, 1974.

This book is rather long. It is full of information on the construction and design of the great cathedral. It contains a few good pictures as well.

"Christopher Wren." World Book. 1985 ed.

TheWorld Book article gives a small amount of information on the restoration of the cathedral.

Fletcher, Gregory. History Of Architecture. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1938.

This book gives little information on St. Paul's Cathedral, but it includes a lot of information on the Renaissance era.

*Freeman, John, and Sue Sharpe. The Beautiful City of London. England: Bison Books, 1986.

This book had wonderful pictures of the great cathedral. We used several of the pictures.

*Ketchum, Richard. Great Cathedrals. New York: American Heritage Publishing Company,1968.

This book has great pictures and good information about Wren and his style of design.