Home
Welcome to SM4!

Worship & Music
St Paul’s Cathedral has been here for over 1,400 years. It has been built and rebuilt five times, and always its main purpose has been as a place of worship and prayer.

Visit Us
St Paul's, with its world-famous dome, is an iconic feature of the London skyline. Step inside and you can enjoy the Cathedral's awe-inspiring interior, and uncover fascinating stories about its history.
Learning & Faith
Lifelong learning is a core part of the our work, delivered through a variety of events by St Paul's Institute, and the Cathedral's Adult Learning and Schools & Family Learning departments.

History & Collections
For more than 1,400 years, a Cathedral dedicated to St Paul has stood at the highest point in the City. The present Cathedral is the masterpiece of Britain's most famous architect Sir Christopher Wren.

Support Us
Behind the scenes, the cost of caring for St Paul's and continuing to deliver our central ministry and work is enormous and the generosity of our supporters is critical.

Venue Bookings
Widely considered to be one of the world’s most beautiful buildings and a powerful symbol of the splendour of London, St Paul’s Cathedral is a breathtaking events venue.Latest News
Cathedral closed until further notice |
The 'story behind the sandwich': Blessing of the Heifers at St Paul's Cathedral
Prayers for the agricultural community by Revd Canon Michael Hampel, Precentor
03 December 2015
Prayers for the agricultural community and the blessing of two shorthorn heifers formed the first Blessing of the Beef ceremony at St Paul's Cathedral on Thursday 3 December 2015.
Tourists and passers-by flocked - or herded together- to watch the Precentor speak to farming charity the Addington Fund and the Beef Shorthorn Society.
A mounted detachment of Honourable Artillery Company Light Cavalry formed an escort by the Cathedral steps and on with City of London police horses to a carol service at St Bride's Church after the ceremony.
Canon Michael asked people to think about 'the great human and animal story that lies behind their lunchtime sandwiches, and the cost to the farming community who produce the food that sustains us.'
Blessing the two heifers, he prayed: 'We rejoice in the unity that is at the heart of your creation; look upon the Addington Fund and the whole agricultural community, and from injustice and economic hardship, good Lord, deliver us ... we stand before you in prayer for all who work on the land ...
'We bless these beasts as symbols of the creativity and ingenuity of God and of God's people.'
He also quoted a 4th century prayer by St Basil: '...We remember with shame that in the past we have exercised the high dominion of man with ruthless cruelty so that the voice of the earth, which should have gone up to thee in song, has been a groan of travail. May we realise that they [the animals] live not for us alone but for themselves and for thee, and that they love the sweetness of life.'
-
Share this content
- StumbleUpon

Escort for the Blessing of the Beef Ceremony from the Light Cavalry HAC
Enlarge this image

Revd Canon Michael Hampel, Precentor, after the Blessing of the Beef Shorthorn heifers
Enlarge this image

Revd Canon Michael Hampel, Precentor, blesses the Beef Shorthorn heifers
Enlarge this image