Unsung heroes – we take you inside the world of St Paul’s volunteers

You can’t help but look up when you visit St Paul’s Cathedral. The dome! The arches! The sheer scale of the thing! But on a recent trip, I found myself looking around instead at the people quietly helping everything run like clockwork behind the scenes. 

Turns out, St Paul’s is held together not just by ancient stone and architectural genius, but by a dedicated team of volunteers. They arrange flowers, stitch kneelers, ring bells, guide guests and, if you’re lucky, share stories of royal visits, ghostly cats and the occasional Paddington sighting. 

Here’s what I learned (and who I met) when I spent a day digging into the unsung heroes of St Paul’s Cathedral.

Meet the wandsmen (and yes, that  is their real title) 

While it *sounds *like they should be part of a ‘Hogwarts’ spin-off, wandsmen are a longstanding team of smartly suited volunteers who help out during services, ceremonies and VIP occasions at St Paul’s. You’ll spot them by their formal attire and yes, the ceremonial silver wand they carry, a tradition that dates back centuries. 

They act as honorary vergers, ensuring everything runs smoothly during major events like royal celebrations, memorials and state services. If you’ve ever watched a televised service and thought, “Who’s that very official-looking person expertly guiding people to their seats?” that’s a wandsman. 

They’ve been around since 1861, but the first woman didn’t join the team until 2006. Since then, wandsmen have helped at occasions involving royalty, presidents, Paddington Bear and even Sir David Attenborough. You know, just your average Tuesday stuff. 

Guiding the way: stories from the cathedral floor 

While exploring St Paul’s, I had the chance to chat with Jim, one of the cathedral’s volunteer guides, and an absolute font of fascinating facts. Jim became a guide after completing the City of London and Westminster guiding courses. Someone told him, “If you really want to guide, you need to practise regularly.” Their advice? Volunteer at St Paul’s. 

So he did, and never looked back. 

Now part of the official volunteer guiding team, Jim helps visitors uncover the cathedral’s stories, secrets and symbols. He’s been there for everything from quiet weekday visits to full-scale services and has even stood ten feet from the Queen during a royal occasion. 

Jim’s guiding tips? 

• Spend time looking up, you’ll miss half the magic if you don’t. 

• Be ready for surprises, including the prowling ghosts of cathedral cats... (I spied no such thing but rumour has it they're definitely in there) 

• And most importantly, enjoy the space, it’s a living building full of history, not just a museum. 

The guides are there to make sure you don’t just walk through St Paul’s, you understand it, feel it and leave wanting to know more. 

Stitchers, guides and sacred souvenirs 

Then there’s the needlework group, a team of talented volunteers who embroider altar frontals, vestments and even the cathedral’s beautifully detailed kneelers. If you keep an eye out you might even see the kneeler once embroidered in dedication to a pigeon. 

Over in the crypt, you’ll also find ‘visitor experience volunteers’ helping guests navigate their trip, offering historical insights and (spoiler alert) explaining why there’s a statue of Florence Nightingale right next to one of Duke of Wellington. 

They’re the friendly faces who answer your random questions “What’s a quire?”, “Where’s Paddington buried?”, and “Is that dome real?”. They’ll make your experience just a little more magical and of course direct you to the all-important gift shop. 

Ring my bell 

Ever heard the bells of St Paul’s? Of course you have! But did you know there’s a volunteer team of bell ringers behind them? 

It’s not just a matter of tugging a rope, they follow precise patterns called ‘methods’, which require serious practice and timing. These aren’t your average doorbell jingles, we’re talking full peals that can last for hours. Not for the faint of forearm. 

Blooming lovely: the flower arrangers 

And yes, flower arranging is a real and very important job. A team of volunteers designs and maintains the cathedral’s fresh floral displays, creating arrangements that complement the space’s grandeur. 

Their blooms have stood beside heads of state and graced royal celebrations - not bad for a day’s volunteering! 

Historical heroes: the volunteers who saved St Paul’s 

Volunteering at St Paul’s today might involve flower arranging or guiding guests, but back in the 1940s, it was a whole different ballgame. During the Blitz, a group of brave volunteers known as the St Paul’s Watch played a crucial role in protecting the cathedral from destruction. 

Formed in 1939, this team of architects, clergymen, staff and local volunteers kept watch from the cathedral’s rooftops during air raids, extinguishing incendiary bombs and shielding Wren’s masterpiece from the worst of the Blitz. They faced nightly danger to make sure the dome, and everything it stood for, survived. 

Their most famous moment? December 29, 1940, the night London endured one of its most devastating bombing raids. Fires raged across the city and it looked like St Paul’s was doomed. But thanks to the watch’s determination and a lot of sandbags, the building stood tall, smoke-stained but intact. The next morning, a photo of the dome rising defiantly above the flames made front pages around the world, becoming a powerful symbol of London’s resilience. 

Today’s volunteers may not be on fire-watch, but they carry the same spirit: quiet dedication, deep love for the building and a willingness to show up and help. Whether you’re escorting royalty or polishing candlesticks, you're part of a long legacy of people keeping St Paul’s alive, for the next 300 years and beyond and we are all very grateful! 

Want to spot a volunteer in the wild? 

Look out for smart suits and shiny wands (wandsmen), name badges and warm smiles (visitor experience), or needlepoint in hand (embroiderers). And if you’re lucky enough to speak to one, go up and say hello - they probably have a brilliant story or two to share. 

Enjoyed this?   

Find out what and who is hidden in the crypt at St Pauls or get ready to visit with our complete guide to St Paul’s Cathedral.  

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