Timeline: 1400 Years of History

From being one of the first fledgling Christian settlements to becoming an icon of the Christian faith in Britain, St Paul's has changed and grown to reflect the tastes, attitudes and people of the nation. Buildings have been constructed and have fallen, services have changed and been updated, but throughout its history St Paul's has remained a busy working church.

604
The first cathedral dedicated to St Paul's is built on the site by Mellitus, Bishop of the East Saxons.

962
St Paul's is burnt and rebuilt in stone within the year.

1087
Following a fire the church is rebuilt again by the Normans.

1501
Katherine of Aragon marries Prince Arthur at St Paul's.

1526
Bishop of London preaches at Paul's Cross against Tyndale's English New Testament, which is later burnt.

1588
Following the defeat of the Armada, Queen Elizabeth I visits St Paul's.

1606
Four gunpowder plotters are executed in St Paul's Churchyard.

1621
The poet, John Donne, becomes Dean of St Paul's.

1633
Restoration on the Norman cathedral begins under the direction of the architect Inigo Jones.

1642-1660
The English Civil War puts a stop to work on St Paul's Cathedral.

1666
The Great Fire of London destroys Old St Paul's.

1668
Wren is commissioned to produce a new design for St Paul's Cathedral.

1669
Wren's first design for the new cathedral is rejected.

1673
Wren's second plan and Great Model are abandoned.

1675
Wren's design, known as the Warrant Design, is given royal approval and the first building contracts are confirmed.

1697
The quire opens for worship while building work continues around it.

1698
The structure reaches the height of the Whispering Gallery and work begins on the dome.

1708
'Topping out' of the Cathedral.

1710
Construction on the new cathedral is completed.

1711
The cathedral is declared formally complete by Parliament

1723
Sir Christopher Wren dies, aged 91.

1790
The first memorial is erected on the cathedral floor, to John Howard, prison reformer.

1806
A funeral service is held for Admiral Lord Nelson after he dies at the Battle of Trafalgar.

1852
One million people watch the Duke of Wellington's funeral procession to St Paul's.

1897
Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee celebrated at the cathedral.

1913
Suffragettes plant a bomb under the Bishop's throne in the quire.

1918
Crowds assemble at St Paul's on Armistice Day.

1940
The cathedral is the target for a bombing raid during the Blitz. During firebombing, Prime Minister Churchill declares that St Paul's must be saved.

1945
On V.E. Day, more than 30,000 flock to services at St Paul's.

1958
St Paul's dedicates a chapel to commemorate American service personnel, based in Britain, who died during World War II.

1964
Human rights campaigner Martin Luther King preaches at St Paul's on his way to Oslo to collect the Nobel Peace Prize.

1965
Sir Winston Churchill's state funeral takes place at St Paul's.

1977
Queen Elizabeth II celebrates her Silver Jubilee at St Paul's.

1981
HRH Prince Charles, Prince of Wales marries Lady Diana Spencer in the quire.

1999
The memorial service for King Hussein of Jordan is the first Christian service in St Paul's to include a reading from the Qur'an.

2001
St Paul's becomes a focus for public mourning in the UK after 9/11.

2002
A national service of celebration on the Golden Jubilee of the accession of HM Queen Elizabeth II.

2003
The first female residentiary canon is installed at the cathedral.

2005
Service of Remembrance is held for the victims of the July 7th bombings on London.

2006
National Service of Celebration for HM The Queen's 80th Birthday

2009
UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd speak at St Paul's ahead of G20 summit.

2011
The 300th anniversary restoration programme is completed.