ST PAUL’S IN THE EVENING SUNLIGHT

A London day today. Amazingly, my office is right on the cross rail Elizabeth Line, meaning I can get there, all the way there, without Paddington, and even better, without the London Underground.

Don’t get me wrong; the tube has its nostalgic charm. I do like the warm wind that carries the sound of buskers along porcelain-tiled tunnels. I like the rush of air as trains pull out of the black hole and squeal to a noisy, rattling halt. It’s the sound of museums, tourist attractions, the great grey river, and of course the glimmering City.

What I don’t like though is the feeling of being forced underground along with a thousand grumpy people. That is stuffy and exhausting, and when you’re working, stuffy and exhausting is exactly the last thing you need at either end of your day.

It turns out I work about five minutes away from St Paul’s Cathedral, so, rucksack slung over both shoulders, I headed off there in the evening sunlight. They say Sir Christopher Wren designed it so that the light would be focused inside like a microscope. I didn’t go in though. The sunlight was magnificent enough on the outside tonight. Half in shade, half golden, the columns rose splendidly to its apex roof and famous dome.

It’s always a treat. For one thing, its size takes your breath away. You round the corner and bang - there it is! Imposing, elegant, historic, wonderful! I really like it. And it’s been having that effect since the 1670s, I’d wager.

Having wandered through the twilit streets then, it did occur to me that London, particularly the City of London is a trove of churches. None as grand as St Paul’s of course, but subtly surviving, speaking, and standing, hidden away in the tight network of office blocks and cafés.

It’s quite emotive to see stone spires reach barely the fourth floor of their monstrous glass neighbours. Stained glass, high in the belfry of those old churches must barely glimpse the sun. It’s a little sad really. But I reminded myself, those churches stand. And something tells me they’ll be there long after Metro Bank and Standard Chartered have gone.

There’s more to say about my day today, but nothing that can’t be repeated next time I go in. It was a very pleasant working day.

Faith, whether enormous and famous, like St Paul’s, is supposed to stand, even in shadow, and reach for the sun. But even if it’s dwarfed by the sky scraping towers of glass and metal, it does its best sometimes to stay right where it is, doing exactly what it’s supposed to do. Hold fast.

I’m on my way home. I’ll be glad to get in. I like London, but as ever, I reckon it’s best when you don’t have to be there too long.