探索不列颠多元文化：圣保罗大教堂

Fires destroyed two churches on the site of St Paul's before construction began in 1675 of the present cathedral，London's most famous church and Sir Christopher W ren's masterpiece.Whether a Roman temple of Diana also once stood there has not been firm ly established.What is certain is that a seventh-century Christian church was burned down in 1087，to be succeeded by the Norman church of Old St Paul's.Sections of this building were lost at various times—probably the most spectacular departure being that of the steeple，destroyed by lightning in 1561—before the Great Fire of London in 1666 brought down virtually the whole cathedral.

圣保罗大教堂是伦敦最著名的教堂，是克里斯托弗·雷恩爵士的杰作。1675年，在该教堂动工建造之前，大火曾焚毁了原址上的两座教堂。此地是否矗立过一座罗马狄安娜神庙不得而知。但可以肯定的是有一座7世纪的基督教堂曾于1087年被焚毁，遭此厄运的还有诺曼底式的老圣保罗教堂。实际上，在1666年伦敦大火彻底烧毁这座古老的教堂之前，其部分建筑在不同时期已经被损坏，最明显的也许就是1561年遭雷电击毁的尖塔了。

After twenty-two years of patient building，the first service in W ren's new cathedral was held in 1697，the last stone being laid eleven years after that.During the final phase，the erection of the dome and lantern，the architect，then an old man，was hauled up in a basket once a week to inspect progress.The ultimate glory of St Paul's is its graceful lead-coated dome，crowned by the lantern，ball and cross.The dome is 112 feet in diameter，and from the top of the cross it is 365 feet to the cathedral pavement.

经过22年锲而不舍的努力，雷恩修建的新教堂于1697年迎来了第一次宗教仪式。此后又经过11年的修建，教堂才彻底竣工。在建造穹顶和安装天窗的最后阶段，建筑师雷恩早已白发苍苍，但他每周都会到施工现场，坐着吊篮上去查看工程的进展。令圣保罗大教堂最引以为豪的是其镶着天窗、球形装饰物和十字架的涂铅穹顶。该穹顶直径长约112英尺，穹顶十字架顶端离地面高度约为365英尺。(www.xing528.com)

The plan of the building is that of the traditional long cross：its structure，combines baroque and classical elements in a restrained English style that is a principal distinguishing mark of W ren and his contemporaries.From the west the visitor passes up the steps and through the lower of two colonnades，there to be confronted by the long nave，augustly beautiful，leading to the domed crossing.The cool monumental character of the interior is sustained by many a tomb and memorial sculpture，in particular to heroes of the Napoleonic Wars.Warmer in atmosphere are the superbly carved choir stalls of Grinling Gibbons; admirers of fine craftsmanship will also remember the w rought-iron gates by Jean Tijou which separate the High Altar from the choir aisles.

教堂设计为传统的长十字形：在结构上，按照颇为内敛的英国风格将巴洛克艺术与古典元素相结合，这种风格是雷恩及同时代人的鲜明特点。游客从教堂西边拾级而上，穿过两条柱廊，到达威严壮美的狭长中殿，这里是通向圆顶形的通道。大量墓碑和纪念雕塑，特别是拿破仑战争时期为英雄们立的墓碑和雕塑，让教堂内部保持着极为冷峻且宏伟的特色。格林宁·吉本斯唱诗班座位上精美绝伦的镂刻则让教堂变得温馨起来；若你喜欢精湛的技艺，那么琼·蒂朱为分开主祭坛和唱诗班侧廊而设计的锻铁大门定会令你过目不忘。