The dome of the cathedral can be viewed long before the rest of the building is seen. The size of the cathedral took me by surprise. It was huge! People gathered on the front steps to relax, catch up with a friend or to eat a bite. As I walked in from the noise of the street into the quiet, cool interior it was like stepping into another world.
I have visited St. Paul’s cathedral 3 times and each time I have discovered something new. There’s so much to see, it’s hard to take it all in at one time. My first visit I just wonder around to look at the statutes and the cravings. The second visit, I discover visitors can climb the stairs to the dome. 376 steps! The steps were narrow and worn as people have walked this way for hundreds of years. It was worth the trek! All of London can be seen from this height. If there’s any energy left, one can climb another 152 steps to the Golden Gallery which is the highest point of the outer dome.
Construction on St. Paul started in 1675, designed by Christopher Wren and Lorenzo Gafà in the Renaissance and English Baroque style. The cathedral was made of Portland stone which is a limestone quarried on the Isle of Portland, Dorset. There are 200+ memorials in the crypt. St. Paul’s was the place where Prince Charles and Lady Diana married, the funeral place of Winston Churchill and the Duke of Wellington. It survived fires and Hitler’s bombs during the blitz. Another magnificent building stands across the city another which tends to be my favorite.
Westminster Abbey, the place where monarchs were crowned, married and buried. The outside of the building caused me to stop in my tracks to just stare. Questions race through the mind “how did they build something such as this so many centuries ago?” As impressive as the outside was, nothing can prepare you for the inside. The Gothic design with all the pointed arches, ribbed vaulted ceilings, rose windows and flying buttresses was something to behold. It is a true senses overload as you try to take it all in at once. It’s grand, it’s royal, and its old are the words that tumble through your mind.
Westminster Abbey has been the coronation church since 1066. The current church was built in 1245 and has survived a fire same as St. Paul. Every monarch, except 2, was crowned on the coronation chair since 1308 and can be viewed if you visit. There have been 16 royal weddings in the church and is the final resting place of 17 monarchs. I was moved to be able to see and touch the tombs of Queen Mary I, Queen Elizabeth I and Mary, Queen of Scots. I had enjoyed learning about these historical women so standing at their final resting place brought them to life for me. They no longer seemed like characters but real people. There are 3,300 people buried within the church. Westminster Abbey boasts tower bells which are rung for major church festivals and saint days. The tenor bell is tolled to announce death of a royal family or the Dean of Westminster.
North of England I have had the privilege of visiting St. Giles in Edinburgh, Scotland. St Giles stands on the Royal Mile between Edinburgh castle and Palace of Holyrood. My first view of the church was at night. It stood dark and foreboding as the wind and cold seeped through my coat. Viewed in daylight the church presented a different vibe. St. Giles is built of the Gothic style with its notable feature the crown spire on the tower. The present church dates from the late 14th century with several restorations. In the 19th century stained glass windows was added. These windows were simply amazing. They came to life when the light would shine through them. Rooftop tours are available. I wasn’t aware of this when I visited or I would have done it. I can only imagine the views one could see of the city. Simply means I must go back sometime!
In my recent trip to Lund, Sweden I had the opportunity to tour Lund Cathedral. Built in the Nordic Romanesque architecture style, it is the 2 towers you notice first. The towers stand 180+ feet tall. The cathedral was built in 1145. The age of these buildings amaze me. I was fortunate to arrive during choir practice. The autistics of these buildings when a choir sings, gives a person chills. The furnishings, altars, and art work are old. Some date to the 1300’s. There is a working astronomical clock from 1424 which is incredible to see. The church has 5 organs! The largest has over 7000 pipes. I would love to hear those organs played! The crypt contains many sarcophagi, chests and grave slabs according to Kristina Strand Larsson of Lund Cathedral Parish.
I have started a tradition, when visiting these amazing churches, of lighting a candle and offering up a prayer of thanks. I have enjoyed my visits to each of these breathtaking churches. They stand the testament of time, all 4 having been destroyed or damaged by fire, yet all still standing hundreds of years later. All still practicing churches with services. It makes me think of this bible verse:
“When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee”. Isaish 43:2
Be sure to click on the pics to see them full size!