St. Paul’s Cathedral

England, 1666: a great fire devastated the city of London, consuming everything in its path, including the magnificent Gothic-style Old St Paul’s Cathedral. Court architect Sir Christopher Wren’s dreams of raising a new cathedral from the ashes of the Great Fire of London – a magnificent church inspired by the grandeur of Ancient Rome. We reveal the vision behind Wren’s resolve and the history of engineering this amazing ancient megastructure.

The history of engineering court architect Sir Christopher Wren’s dream – St Paul’s Cathedral – out of the ashes of the Great Fire of London.

This documentary profiles Wren – who possesses a mathematician’s belief in the inherent superiority of Classical architecture – and his desire to create England’s first Baroque cathedral, crowned by a great dome. But even before the first stone is laid, he faces unprecedented challenges in order to change the history of architecture. Through a mixture of defiance, political cunning and engineering brilliance, Wren sets out to realize his vision. Thirty-six years later, the Phoenix of St Paul’s Cathedral rises to become an iconic London landmark.

Since Wren’s day St. Paul’s Cathedral has been home to several important services, including the funerals of Lord Nelson, the Duke of Wellington and Sir Winston Churchill; Jubilee celebrations for Queen Victoria; peace services marking the end of the First and Second World Wars; and the wedding of Charles, Prince of Wales, to Lady Diana Spencer. St Paul’s Cathedral is also home of the Diocese of London.