6th July 2011
Sir Christopher Wren, His Life and Works by Mr and Mrs Brewster
This was a most interesting slide presentation by Jo and John (shown left) who are Cathedral Guides at St Paul’s they had kindly travelled down from Amersham in Buckinghamshire to cover for the planned speaker who had to drop out due to ill health.
They have been Probus Club of Ewell presenters in 2007 and operate as a duo taking turns to give us a vast amount of detail supplemented by over 60 slides which cannot be fully replicated on this site, only a few are shown thanks to John Brewster. So if you get the chance visit the Cathedral or look locally for when they give their next presentations this will be worth while both on the Cathedral or in this case Sir Christopher Wren, His Life and Works for they travel widely in the south of England in support of The Friends of the Cathedral.
Jo Brewster explained Sir Christopher Wren (20 October 1632 – 25 February 1723) is one of the most highly acclaimed English architects in history. He was responsible for rebuilding 51 churches in the City of London after the Great Fire in 1666, including his masterpiece, St. Paul's Cathedral (below), on Ludgate Hill, completed in 1710. Jo remarked this was painted when Wren (left) was 80 and he looks remarkably young!
Although Jo pointed out in question time that many buildings in the style of Wren are attributed to the great man.
It is realised that many of the buildings came out of his design offices and as the principal Wren got all the credit rather like Lord Rogers getting credit for all the work today of his Company, such is life.
Wren was born at East Knoyle in Wiltshire, the only surviving son of Dr. Christopher Wren (1589–1658), at that time the rector of East Knoyle and later Dean of Windsor.
As a sickly child, Christopher Wren would survive into robust old age. He was first taught at home by a private tutor and his father. After his father's appointment as Dean of Windsor in March 1635, his family spent part of each year there and of course the contacts with Royalty helped. He was at Westminster School from 1641 to 1646 some of his youthful exercises preserved or recorded showed that he received a thorough grounding in Latin; he also learned to draw and was "initiated" in the principles of mathematics by Dr William Holder, who married Wren’s elder sister Susan. During this time period, Wren manifested an interest in the design and construction of mechanical instruments.
St Paul's West Front cleanedEducated in Latin and Aristotelian physics at the University of Oxford starting at 16 years of age, Wren was a notable astronomer, geometer, and mathematician-physicist, as well as an architect. He was a founder of the Royal Society (President 1680–82), and his scientific work was highly regarded by Sir Isaac Newton and Blaise Pascal.
One of Wren's friends, another great scientist and architect in his time, Robert Hooke said of him "Since the time of Archimedes there scarce ever met in one man in so great perfection such a mechanical hand and so philosophical mind."
When a fellow of All Souls, Wren constructed a transparent beehive for scientific observation; he began observing the moon, which was to lead to the invention of micrometers for the telescope. He experimented on terrestrial magnetism and had taken part in medical experiments while at University.
History of the Royal Society is one of the most important sources of our knowledge not only of the origins of the Society, but also the day to day running of the Society. It is in these records that the majority of Wren’s scientific works are recorded.
In Wren's age, the profession of architect as understood today did not exist. Since the early years of the 17th century it was not unusual for the well-educated gentleman to take up architecture as a gentlemanly activity; a pursuit widely accepted as a branch of applied mathematics.
Following are a few of the many slides shown of Wren's prolific portfolio, each was given a fuller explanation by our presenters:-
OBE Chapel and St Faith's under St Paul's
The viewing platform of St Pauls
St Magnus the Martyr Church on Lower Thames Street
St. Mary-le-Bow Church Spire of St Brides Church
St Mary Church
Hampton Court Palace another of Wren's designs additions
St Bennetts Church
Christ Church - Grey Friars
Pembroke College Chapel in Cambridge another of Wren's designsContrary to popular belief, Wren did not die at his son’s house. The Wren family estate was in the area of Hampton Court. It had been bought by Wren many years before as part of a legacy for his son Christopher Wren, Jr. For convenience Wren also leased a house on St James's Street in London. According to a 19th century legend, he would often go to London to pay unofficial visits to St Paul's, to check on the progress of "my greatest work". On one of these trips to London he caught a chill. Over the next several days the illness became increasingly worse. On 25 February 1723 a servant tried to awaken Wren from his nap, but found that Wren had died. Wren was laid to rest on 5 March 1723. His remains were placed in the south-east corner of the crypt of St Paul's.
Tijou Gates - St Peter and St Paul's Wren's Tomb and epitaph
Jo Webster concluded their presentation with the following poem to Wren:-
Christopher Wren by Hugh Chesterman (1928)
Clever men like Christopher Wren
Only occur just now & then.
No one expects
In perpetuity
Architects of his ingenuity.
No, never a cleverer dipped his pen
Than clever Sir Christopher - Christopher Wren.
With his chaste designs
On classical lines.
His elegant curves and neat inclines.
For all day long he'd measure and limn
Till the ink gave out or the light grew dim:
And if plan
Seemed rather Baroque or too "Queen Anne"
(As plans well may).
He'd take a look
At his pattern Book
And do it again in a different way.
Every day of the week was filled
With a church to mend or a church to build
And never an hour went by but when
London needed Christopher Wren.
"Brides in Fleet Street lacks a spire,"
“Mary-le-Bow a nave and a choir"
"Please to send the plans complete
For a new St Stephen's, Coleman Street"
"Pewterers' Hall
Is far too tall
Kindly lower the North West wall".
"Salisbury Square -
Decidedly bare,
Can you put one of your churches there?"
"Dome of St Paul's is not yet done.
Dean's been waiting since half-past one."
London Calling
From ten to ten
London calling
Christopher Wren.
After question time a a vote of thanks was presented by member Professor Ken Taylor (University of Surrey) who eloquently stated he was well aware of St Pauls and the great Sir Christopher Wren but had learnt a great deal of facts and information from today's presentation and thanked our speakers for their splendid lecture, all the members agreed and showed this in our normal fashion.
