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WALKING TOURS OF ROME

Rome's First Protestant Church

25/1/2020

 
Map
Mosaic of Christ Enthroned by Edward Burne-Jones, apse of church of St Paul's Within the Walls, Rome
Mosaic of Christ Enthroned by Edward Burne-Jones, St Paul's Within the Walls

On January 25th, 1873, the foundation stone of the first non-catholic church to be built inside the city walls was laid in Via Nazionale. The date was significant, for January 25th is the Feast of the Conversion of St Paul, and the new church would be dedicated to the apostle. 

​The church, which was completed in 1880, was called St Paul's Within the Walls (
San Paolo entro le Mura) to distinguish it from the ancient and much more famous basilica of San Paolo fuori le Mura (St Paul Outside the Walls). 
​
For centuries Rome had been ruled by the popes, who insisted that all non-catholic worship take place outside the city walls. But on September 20th, 1870, the papal rule of the city came to an end and Rome became the capital of the Kingdom of Italy, which had been established in 1861.

The new constitution allowed for freedom of worship and the building of non-catholic churches within the city walls. Rome's American Protestant community lost no time in raising funds to buy a plot of land on the newly created via Nazionale. They chose the British architect, George Edmund Street (1824-81), who would go on to design the Anglican church of All Saints', on Via del Babuino. 

The mosaics in the apse and choir, which were designed by the English artist and designer Edward Burne-Jones (1833-98), are the pride and glory of St Paul's.

On the face of the first arch is an image of the Annunciation. The mosaic on the second arch depicts the Tree of Life. On either side of Christ stand Adam and Eve with her firstborn. The great mosaic in the apse depicts Christ in Glory. 

Church of St Paul's Within the Walls, Rome
St Paul's Within the Walls
Rose window, St Paul's Within the Walls, Rome
Rose window
Rose window, St Paul's Within the Walls, Rome
Rose window
Mosaic of St Paul above entrance to St Paul's Within the Walls, Rome
Mosaic of St Paul above entrance to St Paul's Within the Walls
Interior, church of St Paul's Within the Walls, Rome
Interior
Mosaics by Edward Burne-Jones, apse of St Paul's Within the Walls, Rome
Mosaics by Edward Burne-Jones
Mosaic of the Annunciation by Burne-Jones, St Paul's Within the Walls, Rome
The Annunciation
Mosaic of Tree of Life, apse of St Paul's Within the Walls, Rome
Christ flanked by Adam and Eve

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    Blogging about Rome,
    ​its art, history and culture.

    Walking Tours For Discerning Travellers

    My name is David Lown and I am an art historian from Cambridge, England. Since 2001 I have lived in Italy, where I run private and
    small-group walking tours
    of Rome.

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  • Home
  • Private Tours
  • Small-Group Tours
  • Contact
  • Blog
  • St Peter's Basilica
    • Altars >
      • Altar of St Joseph
      • Altar of St Gregory the Great
      • Altar of the Madonna of Succour
      • Altar of St Sebastian
      • Altar of the Lie
      • Altar of the Presentation of the Virgin
      • Altar of St Jerome
      • Altar of the Transfiguration
      • Altar of Pope Leo the Great
    • Monuments >
      • Countess Matilda of Canossa
      • Maria Clementina Sobieska
      • Queen Christina of Sweden
      • Pope Innocent VIII
      • Pope Paul III
      • Pope Gregory XIII
      • Pope Gregory XIV
      • Pope Leo XI
      • Pope Urban VIII
      • Pope Alexander VII
      • Pope Clement X
      • Pope Innocent XI
      • Pope Alexander VIII
      • Pope Innocent XII
      • Pope Benedict XIV
      • Pope Clement XIII
      • Pope Pius VII
      • Pope Leo XII
      • Pope Pius VIII
      • Pope Gregory XVI
      • Pope Pius X
      • Pope Benedict XV
      • Pope Pius XI
      • Pope Pius XII
      • Pope John XXIII
      • The Stuarts
    • Portico >
      • Door of Death
      • Door of Good and Evil
      • Central Door
      • Door of the Sacraments
      • Holy Door
    • Pieta
    • Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament
    • Cathedra Petri
    • Crossing >
      • Baldacchino
      • Confessio
      • Dome
      • St Longinus
      • St Helena
      • St Veronica
      • St Andrew
    • St Peter
    • Chapel of the Choir
    • Chapel of the Baptistery
    • Nave
  • Sistine Chapel
    • North Wall
    • South Wall
    • East Wall
    • Ceiling: Part One >
      • Ceiling: Part Two
      • Ceiling: Part Three
    • The Last Judgement
  • Fountains
    • Trevi Fountain
    • Fontana della Barcaccia
    • Fountain of the Triton
    • Fountain of the Bees
    • Fountain of Moses
    • Fountain of the Four Rivers
    • Fountain of the Acqua Paola
    • Fountain of the Turtles
    • Fountain of the Naiads
    • Fountain of the Cannonball
    • Piazza del Popolo
    • Fountain of the Pantheon
    • Fountains of Piazza Farnese
    • Fountain of Goddess Roma
    • Rioni Fountains
    • Street Fountains
    • Venice Marries the Sea
    • St Peter's Square
    • Fountain of the Moor
    • Fountain of Neptune
    • Fountain of the Porter
    • Fountain of the Seahorses
  • Gallery
    • Piazzas >
      • Piazza del Campidglio
      • Piazza del Quirinale
      • Piazza del Popolo
      • Piazza di Spagna
      • Piazza Navona
      • Piazza S. M. in Trastevere
      • Piazza San Pietro
    • Mosaics
    • Fountains
    • Churches
    • Ancient Rome
    • Palaces
    • Domes
    • Papal Coats of Arms
    • Street Shrines
    • Old Photographs
    • Borromini & the Baroque