St Paul's Cathedral , London

The first cathedral on the present site was begun in 604 by Mellitus, Bishop of London, and was probably constructed in wood. This cathedral was rebuilt in stone by Erkenwald (Bishop of London, 675-693), destroyed by Vikings in 961, and again rebuilt. Following fires in 1086/7 and 1136, an ambitious Romanesque church in Caen stone was initiated on an enlarged site. This phase of building was completed in 1241 when the cathedral was rededicated. The Gothic "New Work" at the east end of the cathedral, which was started in 1256, elongated the choir (completed in 1314) and constructed a new central tower and spire (completed in 1315) and a new south aisle (completed in 1332). The upkeep of the "New Work" was the responsibility of the Dean and Chapter, while the "Old Work", the Western portion of the cathedral built before 1256, was, uniquely, the responsibility of the Bishop of London. In 1300 all offerings in the cathedral were assigned to the completion of the New Work. Few changes were made to the medieval cathedral after this period, except for rebuilding the spire after it was damaged by lightning in 1444. The spire (again), roof and much of the cathedral were damaged by fire in 1561. Extensive repairs were effected in 1561-1564 (although the spire was not rebuilt), but by the early 17th century the cathedral had suffered a long period of neglect, and urgently required repair.

In 1608 James I initiated a survey of the building, which resulted in an estimate for the cost of repairing the fabric and rebuilding the spire. The commissioners appointed in 1620 to investigate the necessary repairs launched a national subscription, and quantities of Portland stone were brought to the site, but again there was a lapse of interest. Subsequent repair and rebuilding work is described in section CLC/313/I.

The body of St Erkenwald, patron of London Diocese, survived the 1086/7 fire which destroyed the Anglo-Saxon cathedral, and was (supposedly) translated in both 1140 and 1148 to a new shrine behind the high altar screen. In February 1326 there was a further translation to a new shrine. The shrine was a major pilgrimage attraction, but was mostly destroyed in September 1547 or shortly after, although a drawing by Hollar records the surviving pedestal of the shrine in 1657: see Dugdale (1818 edn), facing p.74. In 1552 many chapels, altars and much other stonework were demolished: see Victoria County History (1909), p.415, and Dugdale, who records certain monuments damaged in the Restoration period (1818 edn), pp.31-32. The remains of St Erkenwald's shrine were totally destroyedby the Great Fire. The only memorial from Old St Paul's to survive the Fire undamaged was that of Dean John Donne, erected (1631/2), which still survives in the current cathedral. For monuments generally, see section CLC/313/I.

The cathedral's medieval cloister and chapter house, constructed ca. 1332-35 by William Ramsey on land in the angle of the (then) south transept and nave, were very small, being only 32 feet 6 inches in internal diameter. The LMA holds three deeds of 1332 for their construction: see Ms 25121:865, 1077 and 1902 (section CLC/313/H).

St Faith's parish church, within the cathedral precinct, was demolished ca. 1255 to lengthen the cathedral. A chapel in the cathedral crypt subsequently acted as the parish church. A chapel dedicated to St Faith survives in the current cathedral, although parish services no longer take place. The parish church of St Gregory by St Paul, which stood at the south west corner of the cathedral, was destroyed in the Great Fire and not rebuilt. Cathedral services were held in St Gregory's between June and November 1561. Inigo Jones had attempted to partially demolish this church in 1641 to make way for the cathedral portico (described in section CLC/313/I), but following the complaints of parishioners was forced to return the stonework he had taken down. The LMA holds the surviving parish records of St Faith under St Paul (P69/FAI) and St Gregory by St Paul (P69/GRE).

The Bishop of London had a palace in the medieval precinct, originally sited in the area across from the north door of the cathedral and moving some time after the late 13th century to a more extensive site to the north west. For St Paul's School, formerly in the cathedral precinct, see the introductory note to section CLC/313/P.