One Minute Testimonials: No Swearing During Church Building

When St. Paul’s Cathedral was being built in London, its famous architect, Sir Christopher Wren, had posted in different parts of the structure this notice: “Whereas among laborers and others that ungodly custom of swearing is so frequently heard to the dishonor of God and to the contempt of His authority, and to the end that such impiety may be utterly banished with these words which are intended to the service of God and the honor of religion, it is ordered that profane swearing shall be a sufficient crime to discharge any laborer that comes to the call.”

To the builder of St. Paul’s and those other noble temples associated with his name, profane words spoken by the builders desecrated and profaned the holy place. If that is true of the temple made with hands, how much more is it true of that most wonderful temple of all, the temple not made with hands—man himself!

[Reproduced with permission from Encylopedia of 15,000 Illustrations, by Paul Lee Tan, Communications, Inc., Dallas, TX, 1998, #10093]

[Editor's note: Sir Christopher Wren (1632-1723) had two distinguished careers. Wren was a prodigy in mathematics and science who by age 29 was already regarded as one of the foremost scientists of his day. Newton listed him as one of the three greatest geometers of the age. His contributions ranged from mathematics to physics, engineering, biology, astronomy and other fields. He held distinguished professorships in Oxford and other universities, was a founding Fellow of the Royal Society, and was knighted in 1673. His second career leading to reknown as an architect began when he was appointed to a commission to survey the area of London destroyed by the Great Fire of 1666. Shortly thereafter the King appointed him to be Survey-General of the King's Works, responsible for the upkeep and maintenance of all the Royal Palaces. He then became Surveyor in charge of rebuilding London's 50 churches, and eventually architect for another 40 or more churches, college buildings and other structures in England and abroad.]