Great St. Mary's University Church, Cambridge
Great St. Mary's University Church, Cambridge
Jake Davies
Without a doubt the most visited site in the historic university town of Cambridge is the magnificent King's College Chapel. Literally just across the road from it however is St. Mary's University Church, also an historic and impressive building that is overshadowed by its more famous neighbour and so receives fewer visitors.
Known as Great St. Mary's, or St. Mary's the Great to distinguish it from a smaller St. Mary's Church nearby, coincidentally it is also now considered one of the Greater Churches, a fairly modern classification given to large and important churches.
History
Founded in 1205, the original church burnt down in 1290 and was rebuilt. The current building dates from 1478 to 1519, though the tower was not completed until 1608. For a small admission fee visitors can climb the narrow, spiral, stone staircase up the tower to get some great views out over the city.
As its official church, the university has some unusual regulations pertaining to it, such as undergraduates must live within 3 miles of the church, and university officers within 20 miles.
Attendance at University Sermons in the church were compulsory and so in the mid-18th century the two large galleries were built to house the large number of attendees.
The church is also home to the University Clock, and the chimes for marking the quarter hour have become world famous by having been copied by the clock for Big Ben in Westminster, and consequently by many house door bells.
The church was built in Late Perpendicular Gothic style. The construction in the 15th and 16th centuries was funded primarily by Richard III and Henry VII. Much restoration work was done in the 18th and 19th centuries. The stained glass windows date from 1867 to 1869.
Interior
The church is unusual in having two pipe organs. The oldest is known as the University Organ as it is owned and maintained by the university and is used for university services.
It was built in 1698 by the great organ builder Bernard Smith. It is probably the largest number of Smith pipes in a single instrument. It was expanded several times until an extensive rebuild by William Hill in 1870. The other organ is known as the Parish Organ and is used for parish services. The original dates to 1869, but the current one was installed in 1991.
Music and concerts take place throughout the year. As well as the two organs the church has five choirs, an orchestra, and bell ringers, the oldest bell ringing society in Britain.
Though his ashes are interred in Westminster Abbey, the theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking's funeral was in Great St. Mary's Church.
The church has a small gifts hop and less than 1 minute walk away operates the popular Michaelhouse Cafe in a former church.
Information
Senate House Hill
Cambridge CB2 3PQ
Tel: 01223 747273
www: greatstmarys.org/visiting
The chapel is a 30-minute walk from Cambridge Station. Alternatively, take a 1citi or 3citi bus up Regent Street from stop 6 at the station.
Accommodation
If you wish to stay in Cambridge there are several recommended options. These include the three-star Holiday Inn Express Cambridge, the three-star ibis Cambridge Central Station and the four-star Ramada Cambridge, a 20-minute drive from the centre.
See here for a listing of hotels and guesthouses in Cambridge.
Cambridge Access - Getting To Cambridge
Cambridge Station is over a mile south east of the city centre off Hills Road. The number #3 bus runs into town to Emmanuel Street. Long distance buses leave from nearby Drummer Street bus station.
Cambridge Station has rail services to Liverpool Street Station in London via Tottenham Hale and Hackney Downs. The "Cambridge Cruiser" travels non-stop between London King's Cross and Cambridge with slower trains stopping at Finsbury Park Station (with connections to the Piccadilly & Victoria tube lines), Stevenage, Hitchin, Letchworth Garden City and Baldock.
Other local lines from Cambridge run to King's Lynn, Ipswich and Norwich.
CrossCountry connects Cambridge to Birmingham New Street Station in Birmingham and to Stansted Airport via Leicester and Peterborough.
By car Cambridge can be reached by the M11 motorway or A14.
It's definitely worth renting a car if you want to get to some of the more off-the-beaten track places in East Anglia and out to the Wash and Hunstanton, a quaint Victorian resort on the coast.
Cycling is a good way to get around Cambridge and there are cycle hire outlets all over town. Do take care to lock your bike securely.
Cambridge Related
Cambridge Map
Hotels in Cambridge
Cambridge Accommodation - Booking.com
Book Hotels in England - Booking.com