St. Paul's Cathedral in London is one of the most recognizable and significant buildings in England. It was designed in the late 17th century by Sir Christopher Wren to replace the previous Gothic cathedral that burned down in the Great Fire of London. St. Paul's Cathedral combines elements of Neoclassical, Gothic, and Baroque architecture. Its iconic dome has dominated the London skyline and remains one of the largest domes in the world. The cathedral serves as the mother church of the Diocese of London.

1. RENAISSANCE
ARCHITECTURE
HANNA P
LAKSHMIPRIYA R

2. ST. PAUL’S CATHEDRAL LONDON

3. ST PAUL'S CATHEDRAL IS AN ANGLICAN CATHEDRAL IN LONDON. AS THE SEAT
OF THE BISHOP OF LONDON, THE CATHEDRAL SERVES AS THE MOTHER CHURCH
OF THE DIOCESE OF LONDON. IT SITS ON LUDGATE HILL AT THE HIGHEST POINT
OF THE CITY OF LONDON AND IS A GRADE I LISTED BUILDING. ITS DEDICATION
TO PAUL THE APOSTLE DATES BACK TO THE ORIGINAL CHURCH ON THIS SITE,
FOUNDED IN AD 604. THE PRESENT STRUCTURE, DATING FROM THE LATE 17TH
CENTURY, WAS DESIGNED IN THE ENGLISH BAROQUE STYLE BY
SIR CHRISTOPHER WREN. ITS CONSTRUCTION, COMPLETED IN WREN'S LIFETIME,
WAS PART OF A MAJOR REBUILDING PROGRAMME IN THE CITY AFTER
THE GREAT FIRE OF LONDON. THE EARLIER GOTHIC CATHEDRAL (OLD ST PAUL'S
CATHEDRAL), LARGELY DESTROYED IN THE GREAT FIRE, WAS A CENTRAL
FOCUS FOR MEDIEVAL AND EARLY MODERN LONDON, INCLUDING PAUL'S
WALK AND ST PAUL'S CHURCHYARD BEING THE SITE OF ST PAUL’S CROSS.

4. • Location : London
• Country : United Kingdom
• Denomination : Church of England
• Previous Denomination : Roman catholicism
• Consecrated : 1697; 325 years ago
St Paul's Cathedral
• Architects : Sir Christopher Wren
Surveyor of the Fabric of St Paul's Cathedral
• Architectural Style : English baroque
• Groundbreaking : 1675
• Completed : 1710

5. ST. PAUL'S
CATHEDRAL,
LONDON, FROM
THE SOUTHEAST.
DESIGNED AND
BUILT (1675–1710)
UNDER THE
SUPERVISION OF
SIR CHRISTOPHER
WREN,
IT COMBINES
NEOCLASSICAL,
GOTHIC, AND
BAROQUE
ELEMENTS.

6. "St. Paul’s famous dome. which has long dominated the London
skyline, is composed of three shells: an outer dome, a concealed brick
cone for structural support, and an inner dome. The cross atop its
outer dome stands nearly 366 feet (112 metres) above ground level
(some 356 feet [109 metres] above the main floor of the cathedral).
"Below the cross are an 850-ton lantern section and the outer,lead-
encased dome, both of which are supported by the brick cone.At the
base of the lantern (the apex of the outer dome) is the famous Golden
Gallery, which offers panoramas of London some 530 steps (and some
280 feet [85 metres]) above the ground. Farther down, at a point just
below the brick cone, is the Stone Gallery, another popular viewing
spot.
"Visible from within the cathedral is the inner dome, a masonry shell
with a diameter of 101 feet (31 metres).... Supporting the weight and
thrust of the upper dome section are buttresses and columns in
a peristyle;below these, near the height of theWhispering Gallery,is a
circle of 32 buttresses not visible from the ground. Eight massive piers
connect the buttresses of the dome area to the floor of the cathedral."

7. PLAN
ELEVATION

8. Main entrance is at left between the two towers.
Photo by Mark Fosh in 2008. This file is licensed
under the Creative CommonsAttribution 2.0
Generic license.

9. Facade - West Elevation
Framing the western facade,
twin bell towers rise nearly
213 feet (65 metres) above
the floor.

10. Baroque style...
Cupola with lantern...
Three acroteria..
Carved tympanum..

13. Baroque style
carved tympanum

14. Corinthian pilasters...
Corinthian columns...
Carved frieze

16. Tower with clock and
steeple

17. Roman corinthian
columns

18. Sitting figure on left: Saint
lukeThe Evangelist with
his symbol an ox with
wings
Sitting figure on
right:St.john the
Evangelist with his symbol,
an eagle

19. Pedimented surround
with supporting Roman
corinthian columns

20. Foliated frieze with
cartouch centre...
Roman corinthian
columns and pilasters

21. South elevation
The dome is among the
highest in the world.

22. Lantern atop cupola

23. Portico

24. Tympanum... English royal coat of arms: lion
and unicorn

25. Egg and dart moulding... Leaf and dart moulding

26. Balustrade... Modillions and rosettes... Corinthian columns
pilasters