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St. Paul's Cathedral - London Trivia Quiz

A bit of history and trivia on St. Paul's Cathedral in London, England.

A multiple-choice quiz by Morrigan716. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
Morrigan716

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
134,796

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
474

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. The first Christian cathedral dedicated to St. Paul was built on the current site in what year? Hint

1243 a.d.

1723 a.d.

1666 a.d.

604 a.d.

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Question 2 of 10

2. After being destroyed by fire in 1087, who rebuilt St. Paul's? Hint

The Anglo Saxons

Christopher Wren

The Celts

The Norman French

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Question 3 of 10

3. In what year was St. Paul's Cathedral, as designed by Christopher Wren finally completed? Hint

1666

1710

1803

1698

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Question 4 of 10

4. About how many memorials are there in St. Pauls' crypt? Hint

500

300

200

400

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Question 5 of 10

5. St. Paul's Cathedral is the largest cathedral in England.

True

False

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Question 6 of 10

6. Who was the first person to be buried in the crypt of the current St. Paul's? Hint

Charles II

Christopher Wren

Duke of Wellington

John Donne

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Question 7 of 10

7. Who carved the original choir stalls? Hint

Christopher Wren

Jean Tijou

Grinling Gibbons

Samuel Pepys

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Question 8 of 10

8. How many steps do you have to take to get to the top of the Golden Gallery? Hint

305

350

530

503

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Question 9 of 10

9. What were Great Tom and Great Paul? Hint

Towers

Paintings

Galleries

Bells

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Question 10 of 10

10. Whose memorial is the oldest, dating back to the Old St. Paul's? Hint

William Shakespeare

Samuel Pepys

John Donne

John Keats

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. The first Christian cathedral dedicated to St. Paul was built on the current site in what year?

Answer: 604 a.d.

This was a wooden building built for Mellitus, Bishop of the East Saxons. It was destroyed by a fire in 675 a.d. and was rebuilt ten years later. It was destroyed again by Vikings in 962 a.d. and the new church was rebuilt in stone.

2. After being destroyed by fire in 1087, who rebuilt St. Paul's?

Answer: The Norman French

Building was completed in 1283, but the new church was not consecrated until 1300. This building was made of stone, but the roof was mostly wooden. Stone would have been too heavy to support.

3. In what year was St. Paul's Cathedral, as designed by Christopher Wren finally completed?

Answer: 1710

In the 1600s, St. Paul's was in disrepair. King Charles II decided to throw out the traders and began to return it to its former status. In August 1666, Christopher Wren was commissioned to prepare a plan for restoration. One month later, the cathedral was destroyed by The Great Fire. Wren later redesigned the building and it was completed in 1710.

The current building miraculously survived World War II.

4. About how many memorials are there in St. Pauls' crypt?

Answer: 200

Among the most famous people buried in the crypt are Admiral Nelson, the Duke of Wellington, and of course Christopher Wren. Burials are no longer held in St. Paul's.

5. St. Paul's Cathedral is the largest cathedral in England.

Answer: False

The largest is Liverpool's Anglican cathedral, designed by Giles Gilbert Scott and constructed between 1904 and 1978.

St Paul's comes in second place. Marvin Trachtenberg and Isabelle Hyman have compared the columns of St. Paul's to those of Borrimini's Roman Church of St. Agnese, the dome to Bramante's Tempietto of 1502, and the porches to those of Santa Maria della Pace.

6. Who was the first person to be buried in the crypt of the current St. Paul's?

Answer: Christopher Wren

Christopher Wren died in 1723 at the age of 91. The Latin epitaph on his tomb is translated as "Reader, if you seek his memorial look around you".

7. Who carved the original choir stalls?

Answer: Grinling Gibbons

Gibbons was a master woodcarver. Jean Tijou forged the original wrought iron sanctuary gate.

8. How many steps do you have to take to get to the top of the Golden Gallery?

Answer: 530

From the observation platform on top the dome of the cathedral, you can see the modern skyline of London. In the Whispering Gallery you can hear a whisper on the other side of the dome, 112 feet away. The Stone Gallery is around the balustrade at the base of the dome.

9. What were Great Tom and Great Paul?

Answer: Bells

In 1698, William III gave the bells from St. Stephen's Chapel in the Palace of Westminster to be used for St. Paul's. The largest was called Great Tom. Great Paul was cast in 1881 by John Taylor and Company.

10. Whose memorial is the oldest, dating back to the Old St. Paul's?

Answer: John Donne

Poet John Donne's memorial, not tomb, is located in the south aisle. Donne was Dean of St. Paul's from 1621 until his death in 1631.

Source: Author Morrigan716

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor thejazzkickazz before going online.
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