Edgardo Gonzalez-Lopez

Imagine a man who could bridge the gap between art and science while designing one of the most iconic buildings of England. That man was Sir Christopher Wren, the architectural master of 17th-century England. With a compass in one hand and a vision of grandeur in the other, Wren designed marvels that would stand the test of time, but he was more than a master builder – he was a Renaissance man a true polymath: mathematician, physicist, astronomer, member of the Parliament and even anatomist[1], founding member of the Royal Society[2] and (very) likely a Freemason.

Born on October 20, 1632, in East Knoyle, Wiltshire, England. He received a comprehensive education in mathematics, astronomy, and physics, which would later influence his architectural work, that encompasses many city churches, the Royal Observatory Greenwich, the Kensington Palace, Pembroke College chapel and Trinity College Library at Cambridge, and of course, his masterpiece, St. Paul’s Cathedral.

The cathedral’s architecture style is predominantly English Baroque, but it also incorporates elements of Renaissance and Gothic styles. It features a magnificent west facade with a portico and two towers, its most iconic feature is the massive dome, which dominates the London skyline. To design this dome Wren employed innovative construction techniques, it has a three-shell design: an outer dome for appearance, a concealed brick cone for structural support, and an inner dome for interior aesthetics.

Being an architect and being one of the founders of the Royal Society would suggest he was at least close to Freemasonry (many fellows of the Royal Society were Freemasons too). However, there is a controversy regarding this topic – according to Royal Society’s records, Wren would have been adopted into a Masonic lodge in 1691:

“Records in the Royal Society archives state Bro. Wren was adopted into the Fraternity of Accepted Masons on May 18, 1691. <<Records of the Lodge Original, No. 1, now the Lodge of Antiquity No. 2>> mention him as being Master of the lodge.”[3]

However, the United Grand Lodge of England, one of the most important Grand Lodges in the Masonic tradition, does not officially confirm the idea:

“While no concrete evidence confirms Wren's membership as a Freemason, his son, Christopher Wren the Younger, was the ruler of the Lodge of Antiquity No. 2 in 1729.

Through this connection, the Lodge of Antiquity is now home to several of Wren's personal belongings, including the famed Wren Maul, believed to have been used in laying the foundation stone of St. Paul's Cathedral.” [4]

In any case, it is clear that Wren was a Master Architect and is recognized by many Freemasons as such. He died in March 1723 at age 91 and was buried in the cathedral. The impact of his work on London and the world of architecture is truly remarkable. His crowning achievement, St. Paul's Cathedral still amazes visitors today.

He was more than just an architect - he embodied the Renaissance ideal of the polymath. His vision helped shape London after the Great Fire and his legacy reminds us of what humans can achieve when they combine creativity, knowledge, and determination.

[1] https://royalsociety.org/blog/2023/05/many-wrens/

[2] https://catalogues.royalsociety.org/CalmView/Record.aspx?src=CalmView.Persons&id=NA8299&pos=1

[3] https://freemasonry.bcy.ca/biography/wren_c/wren_c.html

[4] https://www.facebook.com/UnitedGrandLodgeofEngland/posts/778816944278311/

Are you interested in joining Freemasonry? Learn more here