Wren’s masterpiece emerges from £40m restoration project
One of London’s most iconic buildings has celebrated its 300th anniversary.
The Queen attended a service today to celebrate the official completion of St Paul’s Cathedral in 1711.
The building also emerged from a £40m restoration project which has taken 15 years and was timed to finish before the building’s birthday. The building’s stone exterior was painstakingly cleaned, its sculptures repaired and the interior conserved.
Martin Stancliffe, surveyor to the fabric at the cathedral, who has overseen the restoration project, said: ”It has been a privilege – and an extraordinary experience - to have led the team of professionals, craftsmen and conservators who have contributed so much to this transforming project. This great building is now in a sound state, and probably looks better than at any time since its completion in 1711.”
St Paul’s is holding a photography competition to celebrate the restoration. The ten winning images will be exhibited in the cathedral’s crypt. To enter photographers must upload their images to www.flickr.com/groups/stpaulslondon/ by 16 July.
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