News from Friends of the City Churches

Along with others, we have celebrated the 1400th anniversary of the diocese and have been delighted to review the new book on St Paul’s Cathedral for our members. This book provides a history of the Dean and Chapter of St Paul’s and of their cathedral church. As a result, we have a biography of this famous and well-loved cathedral. It includes not only depth of material about the building itself but tells equally of people who have worked in and around St Paul’s and of the changing context in which it is seen. It was the aim to capture the quirky and distinct nature of St Paul’s and this has been very successfully achieved.

The book divides into three major sections. The first provides a historical overview and the second gives a more reflective and deeper description of the cathedral and its life over the centuries. Part three seems to the reviewer to include some of the most interesting (and unexpected) chapters. There are, for example, three chapters devoted to the music of St Paul’s and another discussing the importance of the book trade in the precinct. Within this section there are histories within the greater history of the cathedral.

The book has a monumentality reminiscent of the cathedral itself. The dust cover describes it as a work of reference and the wealth of information and the detailed notes support this. However, the work would be undervalued if it were to be seen only on library shelves for occasional consultation by earnest researchers. The style is extremely readable and the stories told often fascinating, providing glimpses of life and work in the City, for example, the account of the history of the library and archives and about the reputation of St Paul’s. As Friends of the City Churches we were interested to read that in about 1832, 16 benefices in the City were in the gift of the Dean and Chapter, who also had jurisdiction over four parishes, taking the place of the Diocesan Bishop in visitations and providing the court of first instance in matters of ecclesiastical law.

Illustrations are excellent, well reproduced and always to the point. However, the weight of the book (well over 7lbs) and its cost mean that it is not a casual read. Yale University Press offers us a book of the highest quality in terms of both content and production. Browsing through it increases knowledge of St Paul’s Cathedral and its wider significance in the church and City. Is there any real hope for a paper bound version, perhaps presented in a series of more easily affordable (and easily readable) volumes that could be collected by the enthusiast? In its current format the book may not be accessible to many people who would enjoy it and benefit from reading it.

St Paul’s: The Cathedral Church of London 604-2004
Eds: Derek Keene, Arthur Burns, Andrew Saint; pp544; 150b/w, 240 colour illust.
Yale University Press April 2004 £65

For more details about us, to join with us as a Friend or even train to be a Church Watcher and play your own part in keeping these wonderful buildings open for all please contact:-

Friends of the City Churches, St Magnus the Martyr, Lower Thames Street, London EC3R 6DN tel 020 7626 1555

e-mail      www.london-city-churches.org.uk