St. Paul’s Cathedral

Our seventh and final day of our trip started at St. Paul’s Cathedral. While there has been a church on this site since 604 AD, the church we see today was completed in 1719 after the original was destroyed in the Great Fire of London in 1666. Designed by renowned architect Sir Christopher Wren (1632-1723), it still boasts one of the highest domes in the world.

Max standing in front of the enormous doors.

The beautiful interior of the cathedral.

A monument to Richard Rundle Burges (1754-1797), a Royal Navy officer who died during the Battle of Camperdown.

A monument to George Blagdon Westcott (1753-1798), a Royal Navy officer who served in the American War of Independence and French Revolutionary Wars. He ultimately died during the Battle of the Nile as part of Horatio Nelson’s “Band of brothers”.

A monument to Horatio Nelson (1758-1805), a Royal Navy officer famous for his victories during the French Revolution and Napoleonic Wars. 

A piece of Old St. Paul’s Cathedral that was destroyed in the Great Fire of London in 1666.

Looking up at the incredible dome.

Some of the beautiful mosaics decorating the interior.

Looking up at the ceiling.

The alter.

Myself and Max as we stopped to rest while climbing to the top of the dome.

The Stone Gallery.

The Golden Gallery, a small balcony at the top of the dome and 528 steps above the ground. 

A bird’s eye view of Paternoster Square.

Photo by Max McDougall.

We made it all the way to the top.

Looking back up at the dome after walking all the way back down.

A school group being lead across the stunning marble floor.

A close up of the intricate details of an Altar Frontal made in about 1897.

The monument for The Viscounts Melbourne. William Lamb (1779-1848), the first Prime Minister for Queen Victoria and his brother Frederick Lamb (1782-1853), a British diplomat. The beautiful monument features two angels and was made by Baron Carlo Marochetti.

 A monument to Arthur Wellesley (1769-1852), 1st Duke of Wellington.

The Crypt beneath the cathedral had some interesting tombs like this humble grave marker for a previous organist Thomas Attwood.

The final resting place of Horatio Nelson (1758-1805). The sarcophagus was made years before for Cardinal Thomas Wolsey during the reign of Henry VIII. Due to Cardinal Wolsey’s failure to secure an annulment for Henry’s first marriage, he fell out of favor and was buried in a simple pine coffin. The sarcophagus was used for Horatio Nelson instead.

Some of the intricate mosaic work around the floor of Horatio Nelson’s tomb.