E-text prepared by Jeannie Howse, Jonathan Ingram, and the Project Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team (https://www.pgdp.net) Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this file which includes the original illustrations. See 25266-h.htm or 25266-h.zip: (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/5/2/6/25266/25266-h/25266-h.htm) or (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/5/2/6/25266/25266-h.zip) +-----------------------------------------------------------+ | Transcriber's Note: | | | | Bold-faced text is enclosed by equal signs (=bold text=) | | in this document. | | | | Obvious typographical errors have been corrected. For | | a complete list, please see the end of this document. | | | +-----------------------------------------------------------+ THE CATHEDRAL CHURCH OF SAINT PAUL An Account of the Old and New Buildings with a Short Historical Sketch by THE REV. ARTHUR DIMOCK, M.A. Rector of Wetherden, Suffolk [Illustration: _Photochrom Co. Ltd. Photo._ ST. PAUL'S CATHEDRAL, FROM THE SOUTH BANK OF THE THAMES.] [Illustration: (Arms of the See)] With XXXIX Illustrations London George Bell & Sons 1900 PREFACE. The MSS. relating to St. Paul's are deficient in regard to the earlier periods, but become gradually more complete as time progresses. They have been published or quoted, probably, more extensively than those belonging to any other religious foundation in this country, unless it be such communities as St. Alban's, which have attracted the continued attention of the editors working under the Master of the Rolls. In consequence, although our knowledge, not only of the Romano-British period but of many succeeding centuries, is defective or altogether wanting, yet as time advances after the Norman Conquest the merely printed material at our disposal becomes gradually almost embarrassing. When we come to the present Cathedral, we know not only exactly _when_ it was built, but to a great extent _how_ and _why_. In the _Parentalia_ Wren's grandson, Stephen, partly in his own words, partly in those of his famous grandfather, lifting the curtain, discloses the personal history and inner self of the architect at his work. Among the leading authorities are the following, giving the place of honour to the-- _Parentalia or Memoirs. Completed by his_ [Sir Christopher's] _son, Christopher. Now published by his grandson, Stephen Wren, Esq._ (London, 1858). _The History of St. Paul's_, by Sir William Dugdale (Ellis' edition, 1818). _Repertorium_, by Richard Newcourt (London, 1708).