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The London Cathedral that Keeps Rising Again and its Not-to-be-Missed American History

Laci Barry Post

Updated: Jan 28



The motto matches the history. Resurgam, which means I will rise again, is written above the building's south portico with a carving of a phoenix and tells the story of the famous cathedral. This past November, I got to visit it for the second time, but this time, I truly appreciated its connection to World War II and the history of my own country. St. Paul’s Cathedral in London is a revered place to pray and worship, a breathtaking piece of architecture, and a timeless memorial to those who fought for our freedom when the whole world was in peril.



St. Paul’s site in London has been one of worship since 604. When the Great Fire of London of 1666 swept through the city, it took with it the beautiful medieval-style cathedral that then stood. Sir Christopher Wren was commissioned to rebuild the cathedral, that had already been destroyed three times before, and he began his long work in 1675. Wren’s new cathedral was officially declared complete on Christmas Day 1711, making it the fifth cathedral to stand on the site. It would not be the last time the house of worship was threatened!



In 1940, St. Paul’s faced a new threat in Hitler and the Nazis. About three hundred people volunteered with St. Paul’s Watch throughout World War II to keep the cathedral safe. They drilled regularly and made sure that buckets of water, stepladders, and hoses were on hand if needed. They guarded the cathedral throughout the night, patrolling its passages and roof spaces and putting out any fires from incendiary bombs. Fortunately, the great cathedral survived the Blitz even with two direct hits that missed its dome. Winston Churchill, who said the dome “must be saved at all cost,” was among the most thankful. A plaque in the floor commemorates the faithful men and women who watched over the church. It reads, “Remember men and women of Saint Paul’s Watch who by the grace of God saved this cathedral from destruction in war (1939-1945).”  



The cathedral also remembers others from World War II. Its Jesus Chapel was damaged by a bomb during the war. When it was rebuilt, it became a memorial to the American servicemen who died during the war while based in Britain. Over half of the rebuilding costs was donated by British people grateful for their American allies.



The Jesus Chapel was consecrated in 1958 and is located in the back of the cathedral, behind the altar. I wanted to be sure that we didn’t miss it! The chapel has a roll of honor containing the names of more than 28,000 Americans who gave their lives during the war. It is sobering to read them. Americans will also appreciate the three stained-glass windows, which contain the state symbols of all the states, and wood carvings, which contain birds and flowers native to our country. A space rocket and stars can also be found as a tribute to our space program. We stared at the windows and wood carvings for some time to find it all!



If you are in London, don’t miss St. Paul’s Cathedral and its memorial to American servicemen. I was touched by the level of the detail that went into the work and by the many names of those who gave their lives for my freedoms. Resurgam is a poignant motto for the beautiful cathedral and its World War II story.

                                   

“He’s billeted with a family in England,” Estelle replied, and all the eyes that were on Ava were now observing her.

“Not for long, I’m afraid, if my nephew, who is also in England, is right,” Delores spoke up. “He writes his mother that something big is about to happen over there.”

Songbird, Chapter 46


Looking out at London from the top of St. Paul's Golden Gallery!
Looking out at London from the top of St. Paul's Golden Gallery!

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