Continuing up the stairs takes you to the galleries on the outside of the dome. The Stone Gallery is 378 steps up and is just above the tall pillars. The Golden Gallery is at the beginning of the straight part of the dome, just above the curve of the building. It was cold and windy up there (530 steps up) but the view of London in every direction was spectacular.

After visiting the main church and the galleries, I headed down into the crypt. Lots of important people are buried here, most notably the Duke of Wellington (who secured the victory over Napoleon in the battle of Waterloo in 1815) and Admiral Nelson (who died in the battle at Trafalger in 1805). There are many plaques on the walls to commemorate others (much like St Paul's Church in Halifax).

Also in the crypt there is a bust of Sir John A Macdonald, the first prime minister of Canada. Underneath his unmistakable nose, the enscription has a quotation reads, "A British subject I was born, a British subject I will die." There is also a memorial to William Blake, the poet. After the vital statistics, there is a beautiful stanza from one of his poems.

To see a world in a grain of sand,
And a heaven in a wild flower,
Hold infinity in the palm of your hand,
And eternity in an hour.

This is the first stanza from Auguries of Innocence, a long poem which defends the beauty of nature and rebukes those who defile it. The poet mentions that those who abuse nature, poor people, or the very young will be judged. We need to show respect for the world and God's people in it. Later in the poem, Blake reminds us that God's purposes undergird all that happens to us.

It is right it should be so;
Man was made for joy and woe;
And when this we rightly know,
Thro' the world we safely go.

Joy and woe are woven fine,
A clothing for the soul divine.
Under every grief and pine
Runs a joy with silken twine.

I was really touched by reading Blake's memorial plaque. I would like to see God's purpose in nature around me and to understand and accept the joy and woe in my life. Being in St Paul's was a reminder of the spiritual dimension that many people miss.

I stayed for a choral evensong service. I got to sit in the quire near the high altar. The service was lovely--the men and boys choir led the worship and there were two priests there who read the lessons. The service, although formal, was also inviting and friendly. Most of the congregation were tourists and there was a significant proportion of business people as well.