The great dome of St. Paul's has become synonymous with London and a talisman for Londoners, however the present cathedral of St. Paul is probably the fifth or even the sixth to stand on this site.

There has been a church on Ludgate Hill dedicated to St. Paul, London's Patron Saint, since 604. The Normans began building another cathedral on this site in 1087. By the 17th century it was in a state of decay and in 1634 Inigo Jones was employed to restore it to its former glory.

On 2nd September, 1666, the Great Fire of London destroyed a large area of the city including St. Paul's Cathedral. Sir Christopher Wren was given the task of designing and rebuilding St. Paul's - a task that was to take him thirty-five years to complete. The most dramatic aspect of St. Paul's was its great dome. It was the second largest dome ever built (the largest was St. Peter's Basilica in Rome). Both domes were based on the one in the Pantheon built by the ancient Romans.

When Sir Christopher Wren died in 1723 he became the first person to be buried in St. Paul's Cathedral.

Another Great Fire threatened the cathedral in December 1940, when the whole city and docks were set ablaze during the Battle of Britain. Specific orders for the dome's protection were given by Churchill himself and the cathedral survived.

Today the West Front of the Cathedral is being cleaned and repaired as part of the Cathedral’s £40 million internal and external restoration scheme. This marks the 300^th anniversary in 2008 of the laying of the final stone on the Lantern in the presence of the architect Sir Christopher Wren.

The cleaning and repair of the entire West Front of St Paul’s, as well as the rebuilding of the West Steps, is being funded by an outstandingly generous donation of £5 million from the late Sir Paul Getty. The West Front, which faces the top of Ludgate Hill in the heart of the City of London, is an iconic image with great national significance. It is through the great West Doors that so many British monarchs have entered the Cathedral. St Paul's Cathedral was also the setting for the wedding in 1981 of HRH Prince Charles to Lady Diana Spencer.

The West Front of St Paul’s Cathedral is being covered by one of the largest printed images ever seen in London. Taken from a 1927 architectural drawing of the West Front by Arthur FE Poley, the completed façade will be up on Monday 20 October 2003 and will measure 57 metres wide by 30 metres high, a total of 1610 square metres.

The drawing is printed on PVC designed to withstand sun, wind and rain. Over the next year it will be in place while the West Front is cleaned and repaired. The image has been created and installed by Mega Profile who have covered scaffolds at other famous London landmarks.

Simon Thurley, Chief Executive of English Heritage, said: ‘St Paul’s is London’s greatest landmark and was the supreme achievement of Sir Christopher Wren – regarded as the greatest architect this country has ever produced. English Heritage was delighted to assist in the superb restoration of Wren’s great Dome. We welcome the continuation of the ambitious cleaning programme and applaud the generosity of the late Sir Paul Getty in providing for the restoration of the West Front and Steps. St Paul’s will continue in its iconic splendour to be worthy of its international renown as one of the great domed churches of the world.’

Martin Stancliffe, Surveyor to the Fabric of St Paul’s, comments: ‘Keeping this great cathedral well repaired and clean is a fundamental part of its ongoing care. We look forward to the West Front being revealed again thanks to the generosity of this donation’.

Harry Torrance, Managing Director of Mega Profile, commented: ‘We are very proud to be associated with this project at St Paul’s. The image will give the Cathedral a presence in the City while its own famous façade is hidden behind the scaffolding. It will remind people of the beauty of St Paul’s and the importance of the work being carried out.’

For further information please contact:

Anya Matthews, St Paul’s Cathedral Press Office   020 7246 8321

Margaret Patrick, Broadhead PR   01457 876709

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