Saint Paul's Cathedral stands on the site of four previous churches, the earliest of which dates back to 604. When German forces bombed London in World War II, Churchill formed a group to protect the ancient church. Tune in to learn what happened next.
Today
John Evelyn's 'Fumifugium'
"Fumifugium" was a treatise on air pollution written in 1661. In addition to warning about the dangers of coal smoke, John Evelyn wrote this work to improve the reputation of King Charles II. Research: Chambers, Douglas D. C. "Evelyn, John (1620–1706), diarist and writer." Oxford ... Show More
39m 35s
Nov 2020
The church that rose from the rubble
In 2005 Dresden’s Lutheran church, the Frauenkirche, opened its doors to the public for the first time in 60 years. The Frauenkirche in the East German city of Dresden was destroyed in 1945 by British and American bombing. The church remained in ruins for over 40 years. Then, in ... Show More
10m 1s
Nov 2021
114. Stonehenge, ancient ritual and the origins of paganism
Like Merlin, who lived his life in reverse, we go backwards in time as we continue our two-part series on paganism. Renaissance philosophers; green men; a pagan city in the early caliphate; hooded gods on Hadrian’s Wall; Stonehenge; cannibals (or were they?) in Cheddar Gorge; and ... Show More
51m 54s
Mar 2022
The Frauenkirche - Dresden's symbol of war and reconstruction
In 2005 Dresden’s Lutheran church, the Frauenkirche, opened its doors to the public for the first time in 60 years. The Frauenkirche in the East German city of Dresden was destroyed in 1945 by British and American bombing. The church remained in ruins for over 40 years. Then, in ... Show More
9m 6s