Look up from almost anywhere in the City of London and there is a good chance you will see the dome of St Paul's Cathedral. The building we know today is the result of a long story that runs through fire, rebuilding and decades of construction. This short timeline follows the cathedral's own published history.
A very long history on one site
The cathedral's timeline begins in AD 604, when Mellitus is recorded as consecrated Bishop of London. The Normans began construction of a fourth cathedral in 1087, following a fire that destroyed the previous one. That medieval building, known as Old St Paul's, was consecrated in 1240, though it was not completed until 1314.
The Great Fire of 1666
The Great Fire of London began in the early hours of Sunday 2 September 1666, in a baker's shop in Pudding Lane. St Paul's was among the buildings affected, and the need to rebuild it became part of the wider story of the city's recovery.
Christopher Wren is appointed
The cathedral's timeline lists Christopher Wren as appointed to rebuild St Paul's in 1668. Its longer account gives 13 November 1673 as the date when Charles II appointed him as the cathedral's architect. The two entries describe different stages of his involvement, so it is worth reading the cathedral's own pages if you want the detail behind each date.
Building the new cathedral
Construction of Wren's cathedral took 35 years. The timeline records that the first service was held in the Quire in 1697. In October 1708 the cathedral was topped out, with the last stone laid on the lantern. On 25 December 1711, Parliament declared the newly built St Paul's Cathedral officially complete.
Dates at a glance
- AD 604: Mellitus consecrated Bishop of London.
- 1087: Construction of the fourth cathedral begins after a fire.
- 1240: Old St Paul's consecrated; completed in 1314.
- 2 September 1666: The Great Fire begins in Pudding Lane.
- 1668 and 1673: Wren's work on rebuilding St Paul's, as recorded by the cathedral.
- 1697: First service held in the Quire.
- October 1708: The cathedral is topped out.
- 25 December 1711: Parliament declares the cathedral complete.
Seeing it for yourself
If you are planning a visit, check opening times and ticket details on the cathedral's official website before you travel, as these can change. Outside, look up at the dome and then take a slow walk round the churchyard to see how the building sits among the streets around it. Inside, remember that the long story above is built into the stone: a first service in the Quire in 1697, a lantern finished in 1708, and a declaration of completion at Christmas 1711.
Dates in popular histories can differ from one source to another, so we have followed the cathedral's own timeline and noted where its entries describe different milestones.