“Fascinating. . . . An utterly compelling new book. . . . The illustrations, some familiar, many more shown here for the first time, are stunning, though one almost hesitates to say so, as this is so much more than a picture book. . . . This book is what Wren and his family wanted: a lasting monument worthy of the man and of his emblematic building.” —Lisa Jardine, Times (London)

“Every essay is of interest, none is off-puttingly technical, and the book is sumptuously and informatively illustrated.”—Eamon Duffy, Sunday Telegraph

St Paul’s is unique among English cathedrals for its association with the richest city in the realm and with the secular and political life of the capital. At the same time it has been a lively site of devotion, often innovative in liturgy, music, and decoration, and sometimes at the heart of conflict between opposing views. The story of St Paul’s offers many insights into the history of England as a whole and into the part played by religion in both private and public life.



This magnificent book—the first comprehensive history of St Paul’s Cathedral in thirty years—opens with a series of historical overviews of the cathedral, of the people associated with it, and of its religious, social, and political significance, from its foundation to the present. Additional essays investigate various topics related to the successive cathedrals on the site, and many well-chosen illustrations underline these themes and present the splendid features of the cathedral as it is today.