Paul's Cross

Preserved but no longer current.

Meaning · English

A pulpit in the open air situated on the north side of old St. Paul's Cathedral, in which, from 1259-1643, eminent divines preached in the presence of the Lord Mayor and Aldermen every Sunday. Upon its site a new pulpit and cross were erected in 1910.

Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)

Sources & notes

Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.

Common questions

What does “Paul's Cross” mean?

A pulpit in the open air situated on the north side of old St. Paul's Cathedral, in which, from 1259-1643, eminent divines preached in the presence of the Lord Mayor and Aldermen every Sunday. Upon its site a new pulpit and cross were erected in 1910.

Is “Paul's Cross” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.