St. Paul's

As London's mother church, St Paul's cathedral has for long been the dominant symbol of the city and of its survival through adversity, including warfare and numerous fires. By virtue of its situation in the capital, St Paul's has shaped the English church and state. Besides its position in the hierarchy of the church, the wealth of its estates and its connection to monarch and government, the cathedral has enjoyed a profound link with the city and people of London. These relationships, often controversial, give St Paul's its unique character among English cathedrals. Of the four or more great churches that have occupied the site, the last two have by their scale and architectural' quality been fully equal to the significance of St Paul's as an institution. In particular, the familiar image of the present church and its dome has stood internationally for London and the nation. The masterpiece of Sir Christopher Wren, this is the only cathedral of world renown to have been designed and completed by a single architect. This wide-ranging and comprehensive account is based on the most recent research and thinking about St Paul's and London, as well as the church in England. With forty-two contributors, the book unites specialised studies with a series of historical overviews. Topics covered include the clergy and lay people associated with St Paul's; their intellectual life, interests and responsibilities; liturgy and music; patterns of devotion and commemoration; architecture, decoration, furnishing, and conservation; the endowment and income of the cathedral; its role as a landlord and as a patron of other churches; and the public role of St Paul's in both city and state. The present diocese and cathedral of St Paul's were founded in 604 and this book marks their 1,400th anniversary, Lavishly illustrated and annotated, it is a major work of reference and a fascinating history of an institution that has represented England to the world for more than a millennium.