#18 St Paul’s Cathedral sits seemingly untouched at the centre of a scene of urban devastation. At the height of the Blitz, London’s largest religious monument was transformed into a symbol of resolve, resilience and hope. Winston Churchill was keenly aware of the role that Christopher Wren’s Renaissance masterpiece could play in maintaining national morale and pride, and he issued the order that ‘the cathedral must be preserved at all costs’.

Britain From Above: Aerial Snapshots of a Nation, 1920s–1940s

#18 St Paul’s Cathedral sits seemingly untouched at the centre of a scene of urban devastation. At the height of the Blitz, London’s largest religious monument was transformed into a symbol of resolve, resilience and hope. Winston Churchill was keenly aware of the role that Christopher Wren’s Renaissance masterpiece could play in maintaining national morale and pride, and he issued the order that ‘the cathedral must be preserved at all costs’.

Places & People