The Cathedral is a Dean and Chapter foundation. It was founded in 604 as the episcopal seat of Bishop Mellitus, probably very close to its present site. The history of the Cathedral, including its several rebuildings, is given in W Dugdale, A History of St Paul’s Cathedral, (3rd edn, 1818, with additions by H Ellis) and D Keene, Arthur Burns and Arthur Saint, St Paul’s, the Cathedral Church of London, 604-2004 (Yale University, 2004).
The bulk of the archives of St Paul's Cathedral were transferred to the Manuscripts Section of Guildhall Library in September 1980. They were catalogued by members of Guildhall Library staff from then until 1989, with a few later additions catalogued as they were received. They relate inter alia to the constitution, administration, services, finances and fabric of the cathedral; the Peculiar jurisdiction of the Dean and Chapter (including probate); and the estates of the Dean and Chapter and cathedral officials. They have been catalogued together within the range Guildhall Library Ms 25121-821. Other archives of the Cathedral were lodged with Guildhall Library in the 1960s and later. They consist mainly of manorial and estate records deposited by the Church Commissioners, and probate records deposited by the Public Record Office. They have different ranges of Guildhall Library manuscript numbers, but are included in the thematic arrangement of the archives, detailed below. Records of the cathedral which have been independently acquired by the Manuscripts Section are also included in the arrangement. The provenance of these items, where known, is reflected in individual catalogue descriptions.
The arrangement of the catalogue is based in part on the earlier survey of certain records of St Paul's carried out by H. Maxwell Lyte and described in the Ninth Report of the Royal Commission on Historical Manuscripts. A copy of this report is available at the Manuscripts Section's enquiry desk. Readers are also directed to G. Yeo 'Record Keeping at St Paul's Cathedral' in Journal of the Society of Archivists vol. 8, no. 1, April 1986.
Almost all of the cathedral's archives have now been catalogued by Guildhall Library. However some of these are only partly processed and have incomplete catalogue descriptions. Those partly-processed items which were arranged by Sparrow Simpson and/or described by Maxwell Lyte can be requested using Maxwell Lyte's list and the concordance of St Paul's press marks/Guildhall Library Manuscript numbers (available at the Manuscripts Section enquiry desk). The remainder are scheduled briefly in as CF1-136 (a copy of the schedule is held at the Manuscripts enquiry desk). They should therefore by requested by these CF references. This partly-processed material will be included in the computerised catalogue and in thematic arrangement as soon as full catalogue descriptions are compiled in each case. However at present they do not appear in the computerised catalogue or in the thematic arrangement, and must be searched for separately. Guildhall Library also holds various uncatalogued records, comprising deeds, leases and estate papers received from the Church Commissioners, mostly 19th century. These items are not routinely produced, and written application should be made to the Principal Archivist, Guildhall Library.
The online catalogue of the archive has been arranged thematically by letter codes (DCPA etc). DCPA Charters; DCPB Statute and evidence books; DCPC Muniment books; DCPD Chapter minutes; DCPE Appointments of officials; DCPF Cathedral services; DCPG Financial records; DCPH Cathedral fabric pre-1630; DCPI Cathedral fabric post-1630; DCPJ City churches rebuilding; DCPK Peculiar jurisdiction; DCPL Dean and Chapter estates; DCPM Dean's Peculiar estates; DCPN Dignitaries' and Prebendaries' estates; DCPO Chantries and obits; DCPP Miscellaneous. It is more fully analysed and explained in the introductory notes to each section (eg DCPA, DCPH). The sectional introductory notes can be found by inputting the letter code ("DCPA" or "DCPH" etc) in a classification search.
Some records are listed below with an archival classification number, e.g. DCPH This indicates a considerable number of records are held. Other records are listed with specified Ms numbers, e.g. Ms 25533, Ms 25598, Ms 25664-5, Ms 25726, Ms 25801. This indicates exactly how many records are held.
Full catalogue entries for the records listed below will be found in our online catalogue (use the “Former catalogue”). To find the entries, do a Classification search for the archival classification number or Ms number given below in bold, (e.g. DCPH or Ms 25533). N.B. the records need to be ordered in the reading room using Ms numbers, e.g. Ms 25533, as the archival classification numbers are merely a device to ensure the catalogue entries for records appear in the correct order on the computer catalogue.
The catalogue is available in hard copy at the Manuscripts enquiry desk.
The "St Paul's Manuscripts" Nos 1-4 and 6-20 are still in the custody of The Cathedral Librarian and are described in N.R. Ker, 'Medieval Manuscripts in British Libraries' (Oxford 1969, Vol.1 pp240-262). St Paul's Manuscript No.5 is held by the Manuscripts Section and is described in Section 24 of this guide, see SYON MONASTERY. The Cathedral Librarian also retains custody of certain other records, including Chapter minutes from 1833; some personal papers of cathedral dignitaries; modern baptismal, marriage and burial registers; the surviving archives of the Vicars Choral; and collections of music manuscripts. For access, by appointment only, please contact Jo Wisdom, St Paul's Cathedral Library, The Chapter House, St Paul's churchyard, London EC4M 8AD or telephone 020 7246 8342 or email.
The Surveyor to the Fabric and the Architectural Archivist are responsible for the Architectural Archive, a working archive that supports the operational needs of the Surveyor to the Fabric and which is retained at the Cathedral. It includes plans and drawings of the Cathedral from the mid 19th century onwards and written records relating to the building from circa 1900. For access, Monday to Thursday, by appointment only, please contact Catherine Angerson, The Chapter House, Saint Paul’s Cathedral, London EC4M 8AD or email.
Much more detail about the history and record-keeping of the cathedral and its archive, with a brief bibliography, can be found in the series of 8 introductory notes, Records of the Dean and Chapter of St Paul’s Cathedral, which can be found in the online catalogue by conducting a classification search for Ms 25121. There is also a very detailed leaflet on the archives of St. Paul’s Cathedral, with longer bibliography, available elsewhere on this website, at http://www.history.ac.uk/gh/stp.htm.
a) Administrative records, including:-
Royal charters and statutes. 1099-1813. Many are transcribed by W. Sparrow Simpson in Registrum Statutorum et Consuetudinum Ecclesiae Cathedralis Sancti Pauli Londinensis (1873). See also Marion Gibbs ed, "Early Charters of the Cathedral Church of St Paul, London" (Camden Society, 3rd Series, Vol.58, 1939) DCPA and DCPB
Cartularies. 12th-15th cents, including copies of Anglo-Saxon charters to the Cathedral. Ms 25501 and Ms 25504
Dean's registers. 1536-1642, 1660-1909. Indexed by names of officials and lessees. Ms 25229, Ms 25630, Ms 25791
Chapter minute books. 1660-1821. Indexed 1664-1784. Ms 25738, Ms 25795 and copy minutes concerning benefices 1833-50 in Ms 25821/2
Chapter act books. 1411-48, 1667-87. Ms 25513, Ms 25739
Seal books. 1660-1931. Indexed 1660-1823. Ms 25660-1
Dean and Chapter muniment books. 1660-1912. Indexed. Ms 25664-5
Accounts, 13th-20th centuries, DCPG, including:-
Chamberlain and Receiver General's accounts. 1502-1805 (covering dates). Ms 10303, Ms 25205, Ms 25498-9, Ms 25635-9, Ms 25642-3, Ms 25677, Ms 25692
Keeper of bakehouse and brewhouse accounts. 1282-1557 (covering dates). Ms 25172 and in Ms 25502 and Ms 25516
Rent collectors' accounts. 1315-1636 (covering dates). Ms 25125, Ms 25498-9, Ms 25634, Ms 25636-9
Sacrist’s accounts. 1276-1310. Ms 25171, Ms 25121:1887
Chantry accounts. 1315-1517. Ms 25137, Ms 25140, Ms 25144, Ms 25150-1, Ms 25158, Ms 25160-1, Ms 25163
Indulgences granted for the rebuilding or repair of parts of the Cathedral. Circa 1123-1387. Ms 25124, Ms 25122:1140
Upkeep and repair of cathedral fabric accounts. 1323-1620 (covering dates). DCPH. These accounts survive only patchily. The surviving records are: Ms 19311, Ms 25121/1900 and 1911, Ms 25170, Ms 25413-4, Ms 25490, (in) Ms 25532, Ms 25589 and Ms 25618-19
Records of upkeep and repair of cathedral fabric1633-1930. DCPI including:
Minutes. 1664-1724, 1832-85, 1925-30. Ms 11770, Ms 25622, Ms 25749 and Ms 25807
Detailed accounts of rebuilding of cathedral. 1633-1767. DCPIB, particularly Ms 25471, Ms 25473, Ms 25475, Ms 25481 (including craftsmen’s signatures), Ms 25555 and Ms 25621
Subscriptions towards the restoration and rebuilding. 1631-85, 1925. DCPIC, particularly the returns circa 1678 from around 3300 parishes throughout England to briefs, naming thousands of individual subscribers towards rebuilding. Ms 25565-70 and Ms 25747 (see elsewhere on this website for further details including an index of parish names, http://www.history.ac.uk/gh/stpaul.htm.)
Supply of materials. 1663-1703. Ms 25494, Ms 25579-80
Miscellaneous rebuilding records including correspondence, workmen’s registers, scrapbooks and surveyor’s reports. 1638-1923 (covering dates) DCPIE
Rebuilding of City churches after the Great Fire accounts. 1670-1717. Ms 25527, Ms 25536, Ms 25539-41 (including craftsmen’s signatures and work), Ms 25547
Registers of baptisms, marriages and burials, 1697-1939, all to be consulted on microfilm, including;-
Register of marriages. 1697-1740. Transcribed and indexed in Harleian Society vol 26 (1899). Ms 25740
Register of burials. 1760-1812. Transcribed and indexed in Harleian Society vol 26 (1899). Ms 25741-2
Transcript of burial register. 1814-20,1825-38 (part of the archives of the Diocese of London see (i) above). Ms 11232
Index to baptisms. 1708-13, 1875-1939. Ms 25743/1
Index to marriages. 1697-1758, 1877-1939. Ms 25743/2
Index to burials. 1760-1936. Ms 25743/3
Baptism registers (1708-13, 1875-1975), marriage registers (1740-1990) and burial registers (1814-date) are held by the Cathedral Librarian, St. Paul’s Cathedral, London EC4 and are available on written application.
b) Records of peculiar jurisdiction:-
Licensing papers, 17th - 20th centuries, including:-
Marriage allegations. 1686-1841. Ms 25803 and in Ms 25801
Marriage bonds. 1670-1823. Ms 25802-3
Indexes to bonds and allegations 1670-1841. Ms 25804
Special marriage licences. 1877-1980 (covering dates). Ms 21648
Licensing of parish clerks, midwives, physicians, surgeons, curates, lecturers and dissenting meeting houses. 1660-1847. Ms 25533, Ms 25598, Ms 25664-5, Ms 25726, Ms 25801
Visitation records:
Visitations of parishes in the City of London, Middlesex, Essex, Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire. 1181-1458 (covering dates). Ms 25122:112, Ms 25165, Ms 25432 and in Ms 25504 and Ms 25515-6
Visitation expenses accounts. 1506. In Ms 25187
Visitation and court assignation books. 1667-1825 (covering dates). Ms 25533
Churchwardens’ presentments. 1667-1726 (covering dates). Ms 25800
Peculiar court: DCPKC
i) probate records 1535-1837, including;-
original wills, 1660-1837. Ms 25628
will registers, 1535-1643, 1660-1837. Ms 25626 (on microfilm)
probate and administration act books, 1646-50, 1660-1837. Ms 25625 (on microfilm)
probate inventories, 1660-1725. Ms 19504
The will registers are indexed in manuscript calendars (Ms 25627-7A), with calendars to the administration act books (Ms 26625A) also available in the Section's reading room.
An index of probate inventories is available online at www.history.ac.uk/gh/invent.htm.
ii) non testamentary, 1296-1328 (miscellaneous items) and 1667-1825 (court assignation books). Ms 25432-33B, Ms 25533, Ms 25593
c) Estate records:-
Dean and Chapter estates records, 12th-20th centuries, of property in Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, City of London, Essex, Hertfordshire, Middlesex and Surrey, including:-
Royal grants. 1099-15th century. Ms 25421, Ms 25426-7. Calendared in Ms 25616/1
Surveys, including 'Domesday of St Paul's', 1222, (Transcribed in W.H. Hale ed., "The Domesday of St Paul's of 1222", Camden Society :1st series- Vol 69, 1858) and Parliamentary survey, 1649. 12th-18th centuries. DCPLF and Ms 25504, which includes list of manors late 11th/ early 12th centuries; survey of cathedral property in London circa 1130 and inquisition of manors, 1181.
'London deeds'. 12th-16th centuries. (circa 3000 items). Not fully catalogued. See online composite catalogue entry for details of various partial transcripts and calendars. Indexed by parish in D.Keene and V.Harding, A Survey of Documentary Sources for Property Holding in London Before the Great Fire (London Record Society 22, 1985). Draft catalogue slips to deeds 1-1789 are available at Guildhall Library Manuscripts enquiry desk. Ms 25121/1-2099 & 3000-81 (numbers 2100-2999 never used).
'Country deeds'. 12th-16th centuries. (circa 1500 items). Not fully catalogued, although deeds 1-1463 are listed, and indexed by parish, in an 18th -century calendar, Ms 25616/2. See online composite catalogue entry for details of various partial transcripts and calendars. Deed numbers 612, 664, 926, 961, 1112, 1370 and 1383-4 have been catalogued and are available in the online catalogue as e.g. Ms 25122:612. Ms 25122/1-1523.
Records of individual manors (see Section 19 for a full list of all manorial records held) DCPL :-
Barling, Essex; Barnes, Surrey; Belchamp St Paul, Essex; Bewchamps, Essex; Biggins, Essex; Boyton Hall, Essex; Caddington, Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire; Chingford, Essex; Codicote, Hertfordshire; Edmonton, Middlesex Folyot's Hall, Essex; Friern Barnet, Middlesex; Hadleigh, Essex; Hawksbury, Essex; Heybridge, Essex; High Easter, Essex; Kensworth, Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire; Kingsbury, Middlesex; Kirby le Soken, Essex; Mucking, Essex; Navestock, Essex; Norton Folgate, Middlesex; Paul's House Bowes, Middlesex; Paul's Walden, Hertfordshire; Runwell, Essex; Sandon, Hertfordshire; Shadwell, Middlesex; Sutton Court, Middlesex Therfield, Hertfordshire; Thorpe le Soken, Essex; Tillingham, Essex; Tottenham Rectory, Middlesex; Walton, Essex; West Drayton, Middlesex; Westlee, Essex; Whitchurch, Buckinghamshire; Wickham St Paul, Essex; Yardley alias Ardeley, Hertfordshire
'Dean's peculiar' estates DCPM:- these were estates from which the dean personally drew the income either as revenue from the deanery of St Paul's, or from other ecclesiastical preferments if held and private property. The property was located mainly in London, Middlesex, Bedfordshire, Essex, Hertfordshire and Berkshire, but also, circa 1479-1498, in Nottinghamshire, Somerset and Yorkshire.
Account rolls 1479-97. Ms 25166-8
Registers of leases 1664-1848. Ms 19931
Parliamentary surveys 1649-65, 1715. Ms 11816
Registers of rents 1735-1811. Ms 25694
Rental 1821. Ms 25698
Prebendal estate records, DCPN, are held for the manors of:-
Brondesbury, Middlesex; Brownswood, Middlesex Cantlowes, Middlesex; Chamberlainswood, Middlesex; Chiswick, Middlesex Eald Street, [Old Street] Middlesex; Finsbury, Middlesex Hoxton, Middlesex; Islington, Middlesex Neasden, Middlesex; Oxgate, Middlesex Reculverland, Essex Sneating Hall, Essex; Stoke Newington, Middlesex Tottenhall alias Tottenham Court, Middlesex Wenlocksbarn, Middlesex; Wyland Fee, Essex
Precentorship estate records, DCPN, are held for the manor of Stortford Rectory, Hertfordshire
Treasurership estate records, DCPN, are held for the manor of Whitebarns and Albury Parsonage, Hertfordshire
St Paul's Cathedral. College of Minor Canons. The Minor or Petty Canons were established as a distinct body within St Paul’s Cathedral from an early date, and attended all cathedral services. The sub-dean of the cathedral was traditionally appointed from the Minor Canons. In 1366 the Minor Canons were left a common hall in the cathedral close, and in 1394 became a corporate body by royal charter. Records of the College covering 1394-1982 are held, mainly deposited in 1993 and after (although a number of items had been transferred with those of the Dean and Chapter in 1980 or earlier still).
Charters and statutes. 1394-1640. Ms 29410-19
Minutes. 1760-1981. Ms 29420/1-5 (NB 29420/5 is on restricted access)
Correspondence. 1966-82. Ms 29424 (restricted access)
Accounts. 1631-1958. Ms 25594, Ms 25746, Ms 29425-9
Title deeds and estate registers. 1246-1896. Ms 19859, Ms 19932-41, Ms 25652, Ms 29430-3, Ms 29440
Miscellaneous papers. 1663-1903. Ms 25790, Ms 29421-3, Ms 29434-9, Ms 30571-4
St Paul's Cathedral Choir School. 1810-1981. see Section 18 (iii)
Last updated 13th February 2009