The Susie Zone - Exploring St. Paul's Cathedral (February 2018)
Exploring St. Paul's Cathedral
by Susie J. Briscoe
This is #2 in my series in which we explore places where I have personal experience.
This time we remain in the city of London, at a very familiar landmark: St. Paul’s Cathedral, perhaps best known internationally of late as the place where HRH The Prince of Wales married Lady Diana Spencer.
Two days before their wedding, I took my daughter Lara and her French exchange buddy (they were 10 years old) to visit; this was the first time for them both. It was so wonderful because the choir and musicians were there rehearsing for the Royal Wedding throughout our visit.
We went all the way up to the very top – above the inside view from the Whispering Gallery – so that we could look out across London from the highest open air vantage point. I recovered from the dreadful experience of climbing the very tiny spiral iron staircase that took us right up the centre of the dome itself (not around the edge, but literally up through the middle with air and space all around us). It is not an experience for the faint-hearted!
Even the heavenly music could not take away the woozy feeling I experienced, however the young were totally unaware of this sensation. We did all sit quietly on our return journey through the Whispering Gallery to enjoy listening, first-hand, to the music we later heard during the actual Royal Wedding ceremony.
Before we get into the facts about this beautiful building, I would like to share with you that my first memory of seeing it was being driven in a car by my father at about 5 years old; he was delivering something into the City and I can remember suddenly coming across this huge edifice. However, the reason I could see it more clearly than anyone would today, was because I was viewing it from the road looking across to the area that had suffered badly by being bombed during the Blitz in World War 2. London was a sad sight before all the restoration work had been achieved. I have since visited this beautiful building on many occasions.
My second connection was whilst I was a Council Member (like a Governor on a board of directors) for The Cheltenham Ladies' College. One of my colleagues on the Council was actually the Dean at St. Paul’s, and it was very special to have someone of that eminence to work alongside.
My third connection was when I was doing voluntary work for Sir Paul Newall on his charity appeal committee for his Lord Mayoral year. I co-chaired a fund-raising committee for the late Sir Paul to benefit his chosen charity that year: St. Paul’s Cathedral, itself.
I was responsible for putting together a suitable committee to this end and succeeded in getting quite a few of the great and the good from the City of London… very prominent people.
We persuaded Lord (Andrew) Lloyd Weber to allow his company (at the time Prince Edward, HM The Queen’s youngest son, was working for Lloyd Webber’s company) to perform a selection from his musicals. It was very special, and I was particularly pleased that I managed to personally persuade not only Lord Lloyd Weber to be one of the Patrons of the event but also to get his wife to be one of our committee members. Another coup was that I asked the late Lady Diana’s best friend, The Lady (Hayat) Palumbo, to also work alongside us on the committee.
HRH Princess Margaret (HM The Queen’s sister) graciously agreed to attend as our guest of honour and it was the most marvellous evening… one I shall remember all my life. This was the second occasion on which I had the privilege of being presented to Her Royal Highness, and I was seated immediately behind her in the 2nd row of seats in the Cathedral, lest she require anything. Anne, The Lady Glenconner, was her Lady-in-waiting on this occasion, and again it was the second occasion I met her. For information: The Lady Glenconner was also one of the Maids of Honour at HM the Queen’s coronation. The reason I’m sharing this is because you may know her husband better as being the gentleman who discovered and made Mustique what it is today. They gave Princess Margaret her house on the island as a wedding gift in 1961, and the rest, as they say is history. Lord Glenconner then went on to do the same for St. Lucia, building his hotel between the Pitons. Just another bit of crazy knowledge I gained from this particular fundraiser, for the trivia fans out there: the sound takes 2 minutes to travel from the front of the Cathedral to the very back!
We had cocktails and canapes in a very private upstairs part of the Cathedral, where we were able to look down and have a perfect view of the beautiful architecture from an elevated position. During this reception I met the legendary songwriter Don Black… he who has written some of the most powerful songs spanning the whole of my lifetime – he has an International status that rivals the top lyricists and musicians. When I said it was amazing, it really was AMAZING, and during the evening we raised the significant sum of £140,000 ($198,000) for The Lord Mayor’s annual charity, St. Paul’s Cathedral, itself.
My fourth connection to St. Paul’s is just very special. I was invited to attend the Golden Celebration of HM The Queen’s Reign in 2002. Words will never describe being one of those people who had the special stiff card invitation which allowed me to pass the police security lines and walk up the huge steps of this magnificent building, with all the crowds of people lining the street, cheering and waving their flags. I was fortunate to be allocated a seat about half way down the Aisle and had a first-class seat to witness the entire British Royal Family, complete with pomp and circumstance, walk to the front and take their pews. The service was very moving, and eventually when things settled, and the service was in flow the presence of the television cameras attached to the massive pillars was non-intrusive. The essence surrounding us was an atmosphere that was very sacred.
Now, I well get on to the facts about the building itself...
St. Paul's Cathedral, London, is an Anglican cathedral, the seat of the Bishop of London, and the mother church of the Diocese of London. It sits on Ludgate Hill at the highest point of the City of London and is a Grade I listed building.
Construction started: June 1675
Height: 111 m
Architects: Christopher Wren, Nicholas Hawksmoor
Dome: London
Did you know? St. Paul's was completely destroyed during the great fire of London and was completely redesigned and rebuilt, as we see it today.
Its dedication to Paul the Apostle dates back to the original church on this site, founded in AD 604. The present cathedral, dating from the late 17th century, was designed in the English Baroque style by Sir Christopher Wren. Its construction, completed in Wren's lifetime, was part of a major rebuilding programme in the City after the Great Fire of London
The cathedral is one of the most famous and most recognisable sights of London. Its dome, framed by the spires of Wren's City churches, has dominated the skyline for over 300 years. At 365 feet (111 m) high, it was the tallest building in London from 1710 to 1967. The dome is among the highest in the world. St. Paul's is the second-largest church building in area in the United Kingdom after Liverpool Cathedral.
St. Paul's Cathedral occupies a significant place in the national identity. It is the central subject of much promotional material as well as of images of the dome surrounded by the smoke and fire of the Blitz. Services held at St. Paul's have included the funerals of Admiral Nelson, the Duke of Wellington, Sir Winston Churchill and Baroness Thatcher; jubilee celebrations for Queen Victoria; peace services marking the end of the First and Second World Wars; the wedding of Charles, Prince of Wales and Lady Diana Spencer; the launch of the Festival of Britain; and the thanksgiving services for the Silver, Golden, and Diamond Jubilees and the 80th and 90th birthdays of Elizabeth II.
St. Paul's Cathedral is a working church with hourly prayer and daily services. The tourist entry fee at the door is £18 for adults (March 2017, cheaper online), but no charge is made to worshipers.
Source: Wikipedia, with additional material by SJB
Don’t forget to share with me what you discovered during this month and let me know if I may share it within this newsletter next month.
