Today we are sharing Part 2 in our ‘Did You Know?” Travel Series. Find additional series topics which include European attractions and iconic European landmarks by searching our site.
Adding to our “Did You Know?” Travel Series we are including one of London’s most iconic and recognizable sights. St. Paul’s Cathedral sits on Ludgate Hill, the highest point of the City of London. Its dome is among the highest in the world and is the second largest church building in the United Kingdom after Liverpool Cathedral.
Today St Paul’s Cathedral is a busy working church with hourly prayer and daily services but the present church dates back from the late 17th century. Interesting enough, the original church on this site was founded in AD 604 and was dedicated to Paul the Apostle.
Because the original site of St. Paul’s Cathedral dates back to 604AD you can imagine the history that comes with the church. Four previous cathedrals preceded Sir Christopher Wren’s English Baroque version which was completed in 1720 and span 45 years to build after a fire in 1666. Aside from several fires, the church suffered war damage and in the 1940’s and endured extensive copper, lead and slate renovation restorations in 1996 which took 15 years to complete.
Although tourism is a major part of St Paul’s Cathedral, the area is closed to sightseers and strictly open as a place of worship on Sundays. you can visit St. Paul’s with an admission rate charge. St Paul’s receives very little or significant funding from the Crown and therefore relies on the tourism income for Christian worship and to cover general maintenance and repairs.
Does St Paul Cathedral look familiar? It may, did you know that St. Paul’s was featured in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Sherlock Holmes, Doctor Who, Stark Trek movies and Mary Poppins?
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