St Paul's Cathederal (1940s)

[Music] for more than 1300 years a Cathedral Church dedicated to St Paul the Apostle to the Gentiles has stood upon the summit of lget Hill the highest point in the whole of the great city of London this present magnificent edifice familiar and beloved to all real londoners whose Dome is probably the most famous in the world is actually the third of three great churches which have stood upon this sacred spot and witness the passing of the centuries the first built by ethelbert King of Kent in the year 607 survived over 450 years but was accidentally destroyed by fire in 1087 the second may be seen in the background of this famous old prin of latima preaching at Old St Paul's cross it was an enormous and magnificent building with a Spire 489 ft High it lasted nearly six centuries but perished in the Great Fire of London in [Music] 1666 the rebuilding of St Paul's as we know of today was begun in 1675 taking 35 years to complete its architect was none other than that prolific genius the great Sir Christopher Ren who laid the foundation stone himself of all great English Cathedrals none is so difficult of access on the outside from the camp point of view as St Paul's from the bottom of lget Hill it is almost invisible with the exception of the famous dome so submerged as it become in the sea of shops Banks and newspaper offices that represent our modern Commerce it is the Dome we Glimpse again as we pair down walkling street our tiny Cannon alley if we do a little climbing we are rewarded with the Dome again and half the towers with a of The Gables of the Western Front and of the South Transit while if we are really persevering a different Viewpoint gives us even a better result but if one has a feeling of frustration on the outside there can be none within so let us climb those famous steps and enter by the main doors our gaze is at once Enchanted by the vision that confronts us long clean lines guide our eyes right up to the distant High alar the Nave in which which we stand consists of four Bays on either side and high above the archers runs a cornice from an elevated position on a level with the top of the coris is a gallery behind a modern railing of rot iron overhead are the great transverse archers of the ceiling of the na moving directly Eastward towards the choir we come to Sir Christopher Ren's architectural Miracle the Great Central Dome here eight solid peers and eight Mighty arches support the corners of the famous Whispering Gallery let us take a sweep up to the lofty circular Heights above us where in Greater detail is that curious and mysterious AR tectural accident the whispering Gallery where the softest whisper makes its Circuit of the Dome and returns to the ear of the speaker above the gallery rise first the drum and then a row of pters above the pters is the anome of plastered brick then almost as though he considered this just Child's Play Ren completed his tour to horce by adding a cone of brick supporting a stone Lantern and ending in a gilded ball and cross the whole gigantic burden resting finally and miraculously upon the eight solid Pi here let us pause a moment and consider the superb beauty of the Dome area the space and vastness are things at which to Marvel and stand in a and now moving Eastward again we arrive at the choir and high altar this by many is considered the most beautiful part of the cathedral the fine altar is made of Emy and Brass though occasionally hidden from view by a beautifully embroidered font the great bronze candlesticks are reproductions from Originals said to have been formerly in Old St Paul's to the northwest of the choir is a portion of the organ case and directly beneath it the Stalls of the arch Deacon of London and other cannons to the right of the high Altar and at the end of the South choir stalls is The Bishop's Throne magnificently carved and surmounted by a miter before leaving this part of the