St. Pauls Cathedral seen today was built between 1675 and 1711 by Sir Christopher Wren . The Foudation Stone was laid in 1675 when he was 43 year old , and the last stone was put in place by his son , 33 years later . The original Norman Cathedral , destroyed in the Great Fire Of London of 1666 , was even larger than Wrens new building and must have dwarfed the medival city . Its architectural and artistic importance reflect the determination of the five monarchs who oversaw its building that Londons leading church should be as beautiful and imposing as their private places .
