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A Resource Book for Teachers and Students Front Cover Photograph by Graham Lacdao Contents Introduction 4 Schools & Families Department A resource book for teachers and students Front Cover photograph by Graham Lacdao Contents Introduction 4 What is a Cathedral? 5 The Uses of a Cathedral 6 Parts of a Cathedral: Altar 7 Apse and Ambulatory 8 Crypt 9 Nave 10 Quire & Sanctuary 11 Side Chapels 12 Transepts 13 Objects in a Cathedral: Cathedra 14 Chalice and Paten 15 Font 16 Lectern 17 Pulpit 18 Vestments 19 Glossary 20 4 Introduction We hope you will enjoy exploring St Paul’s! St. Paul‘s Cathedral is not only the Cathedral church of the London diocese, but it can also be called the Nation‘s Cathedral. Dominating the London skyline for hundreds of years, St. Paul‘s has been the scene of many important events. From its earliest days as the home of the Shrine of St. Erkenwald, people have been attracted to the site on Ludgate Hill to worship God, and to see the spectacle of the building itself. Destroyed by the Great Fire of London in 1666, St. Paul‘s was rebuilt according to the radical plans of Sir Christopher Wren, and stands today as a symbol of faith and an object of beauty in the City of London. This booklet aims to cover both the history and symbolism of the various parts of the Cathedral, as well as some of the objects which can be seen during an act of worship. It attempts to explain how these features relate to the Christian faith as practised in St. Paul‘s, but could also be used to explain key features common to all Cathedrals and many churches. St. Paul‘s is a Cathedral of the Church of England, part of the worldwide Anglican Communion. It is the Cathedral of the London Diocese, and is the seat of the Bishop of London. About two million people visit the Cathedral every year, both as tourists and worshippers. With grateful thanks to Laura Arends who produced this booklet. Janet Marshall Head of Schools & Families Department 5 What is a Cathedral? A Cathedral is the Every person in the country lives in a main church in a parish. Parishes usually have several diocese, and thousand parishioners, people who live in the parish even if they don‘t contains a cathedra, go to the church. They are under the or bishop’s chair. care of the parish priest, or St. Paul’s Cathedral is the main church Parishes are grouped together of the Anglican London Diocese and was completed in the 1710. In the Quire you under the care of a bishop. It is can see special chair or Bishop of London. Having a bishop’s the bishop‘s task to oversee the cathedra chair is what makes a Cathedral more of The running of all these parishes, than just a large church and this large area is called a . diocese. There are 43 Anglican dioceses in England. Each diocese has a large church There has been a Cathedral on the called a cathedral. This is where site of St. Paul’s in London since people from all over the diocese can 604 AD. That means that God has been worshipped on the site, come and worship together, usually EVERY DAY for over fourteen on special occasions. Many hundred years! Cathedrals in Britain are very old, dating from the 11th or 12th centuries, and are built on even older foundations. The person in charge of a Cathedral is called the Dean. He or she is a priest, and is assisted by Canons, some priests and some lay (not ordained) people, who make up the Chapter. Since Cathedrals are also tourist attractions today, they employ a vast range of staff, from IT to Customer Services. St. Paul‘s employs about 150 people, making it a medium sized business as well as a place of worship. 6 The Uses of a Cathedral A Cathedral is the All Cathedrals are places to worship main church of a God. They hold several services diocese., used by every day. St. Paul‘s has four services Christians from all on weekdays: Mattins at 7.30am, over the area. Eucharist at 8am, Eucharist at 12.30pm, and Evensong at 5pm. Anyone can come to these services. Cathedrals also hold services such as baptisms, weddings, and funerals of important people. St. Paul’s Cathedral Cathedrals will also celebrate was chosen as the site for the funeral of Sir Winston Churchill in 1965, and in special days, such as Saints‘ 1981 the wedding of Prince Charles and Days. During the week before Lady Diana Spencer was also conducted at St. Paul’s. Easter, there will be special services to mark the events as they are told in the Bible. Some organisations such as schools and charities may hold special services in Cathedrals may hold Cathedrals. other, important services when a On Remembrance Sunday, large building is important people join with needed. old soldiers to remember people who died in wars. Many Cathedrals also hold concerts A Cathedral is place of worship, but has many other roles. Since and lectures. St. Paul‘s hosts most Cathedrals are also Handel‘s Messiah each year in beautiful places to visit, tourism December, and regularly invites is also now very important, too. famous speakers to give lectures on a wide range of topics. 7 Parts of a Cathedral: Altar The idea of the altar The altar is a table The Jewish Temple used to came from Judaism. used when stand in Jerusalem. The When the first Christians altar was used to sacrifice Christians share animals to God as part of built churches, they put their worship. Many of the bread and wine in first Christians were Jews. in altars. They broke bread on them as a re- the Communion. minder of the death of Jesus, as a sacrifice for all people. Quaker Christians place emphasis on quiet prayer. Their altar is a Altars reflect the beliefs of simple table, in the centre of the groups of Christians. For exam- room. ple, Roman Catholics see com- munion, or Mass, as the central act of worship. The Altar in a Catholic church is highly deco- Most Cathedrals in Britain were rated. It also contain relics of built before the Reformation, so saints. Protestant Christians tend their altars tend to be quite to have a simple wooden table, ornate. However, many were often with a Bible on top, to re- attacked by Puritans during the flect their belief in the impor- 17th Century and much of the tance of Scripture. decoration was destroyed. Puritans believed that everything should be very plain and simple so that you could concentrate on praying. They destroyed decorations such as statues and wall paintings. The Victorians replaced the simple wooden altar at St. Paul‘s, in 1888, with a large, ornate one, topped with a marble screen. In 1940, this altar was damaged by a bomb and the present altar was completed in 1958. It is based on a design by Sir Christopher Wren. 8 Parts of a Cathedral: Apse and Ambulatory The Apse is the semi- Cathedrals have always been places of circular chapel behind pilgrimage, with a shrine to a saint. An the High Altar. ambulatory made it possible for The Ambulatory is the pilgrims to move all around the shrine, without entering the Sanctuary, where area which links the only Priests could go. North and South Aisles. At St. Paul’s, the Ambulatory runs behind the Quire stalls. It is made up of two side aisles: the Dean’s Aisle (to the south) and the Minor Canon’s Aisle (to the north), joined by the Apse chapel behind the High High Altar. Altar Behind the High Altar is a semi- circular area called the apse. This is a found in the earliest of church buildings. In many Cathedrals, this area is a chapel, often dedicated to Jesus‘ mother, Mary, and known as the Lady Chapel. The chapel in the apse of St. Paul’s was built after World War 2, and is known as the American Memorial Chapel. It remembers all the North American soldiers, based in Britain, who died during the Second World War. 9 Parts of a Cathedral: Crypt Crypts were used to bury the dead. The word, People were either buried under the ‘crypt’ comes ground, or placed in vaults with family from a word members. meaning ‘hidden Early Christians dug under place’. A ‘martyr’ is someone their churches and put who has been killed for the bodies of martyrs their faith. there. Crypts became ‘Relics’ are physical reminders of saints. important resting places They are often bits of for the relics of saints. bone, clothing, or personal objects Later, churches were built with crypts in which important people could be buried. The Chapel of St. Faith in St. Paul‘s Crypt was first created in the Medieval Cathedral after a rebuilding programme required the demolition of the Parish Church of St. Faith. It was rebuilt by Christopher Wren. Today, it is used as a venue for the weddings and baptisms of members of the Order The Duke of Wellington‘s tomb in of the British Empire (OBE). the Crypt of St. Paul‘s The floor was originally plain earth. St. Paul’s Crypt has the tombs of Coffins were buried with a stone slab, Nelson and Wellington, not martyrs, but great men from the past. Today, or ledger, on top. A proper floor was the Crypt of St. Paul’s houses many laid by the Victorians, who added essential elements: the Works Department, music practice areas, memorials to the crypt, making it a the Education Centre, Treasury, place to visit as much as the building Toilets, Café and Restaurant, and Conference facilities.
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