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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.

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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.
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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.

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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.

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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.

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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 |
OnThisDay 1901: the last Victorian Bishop of London dies in office
14 January 2015
The position of the third most senior cleric in the Church of England has had a rich history, with 132 men holding the title of Bishop of London since the year 604.
But for most, their role as priest would not be described as a 'second career' and their job as bishop seen as 'sometime'.
A great scholar of the reformation Papacy, as well as the unique social workings of the Church of England, Creighton was well-regarded as a historical academic, holding the position of Dixie Professor of Ecclesiastical History at Cambridge University and becoming the first editor of the English Historical Review.
Ordained at the relatively mature age of 27, Creighton first worked as a vicar in Northumberland, before quickly rising through the ranks to become a Canon at Worcester Cathedral (1885), Bishop of Peterborough (1891) and then Bishop of London in 1897.
His period in office also saw him sit at the heart of the debate between 'low church' and 'high church' within the Church of England, with the former wanting to move away from the ritual of Roman Catholic traditions and the latter preferring an Anglo-Catholic way of performing liturgy, for example with the use of candles and incense.
Not long after becoming Bishop of London, Creighton was tasked with performing the service of thanksgiving for the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria, held outside on the steps of St Paul's as the ageing monarch was not able to get out of her carriage and into the Cathedral.
After his funeral at the Cathedral, he became the first Bishop London in 280 years to be buried within St Paul's. His wife, Louise, an activist for the role of women within society and the Church, was buried next to him 35 years later.
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Mandell Creighton's ledger stone in the Cathedral crypt
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A painting of Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee service in 1897
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The statue of Creighton on the Cathedral floor, which faces that of John Donne in the Dean's Aisle
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