St. Bene't's Church Cambridge

Jake Davies

The Anglo Saxon tower of St. Bene't's Church is the oldest building in Cambridge. — The Anglo Saxon tower of St. Bene't's Church is the oldest building in Cambridge

The historic university town of Cambridge is home to a wealth of historic architecture, but tucked away down a small side street is the little gem of St. Bene't's Church. The tower of the church is the oldest structure in all of Cambridge and also St. Bene't's is the oldest church in all of Cambridgeshire.

St. Bene't's Church in Cambridge. — The roof of one of the aisles of St. Bene't's church in Cambridge showing the painted, carved figures

History

The tower is believed to have been built in the first half of the 11th century, before the Norman Conquest, with best estimates being around 1020 during the reign of King Canute.

At this time Cambridge was an important and wealthy market town and archaeological evidence suggest there were other churches in the town at the same time.

St. Bene't is an Anglo-Saxon rendition of St. Benedict, the founder of the Benedictine Order.

In the early 13th century the university at Cambridge was founded and around this time the church was enlarged, to house the larger congregations. Until the 17th century the bells of St. Bene't's were used to call students to lectures and congregations, etc.

A close up of one of the carved figures in the roof of St. Bene't's Church, the oldest church in Cambridgeshire. — A close up of one of the carved figures in the roof of St. Bene't's Church, the oldest church in Cambridgeshire

Corpus Christi College

In the mid-14th century St. Bene't's became the chapel for the newly formed Corpus Christi College and continued as such until the 17th century and the college continues as a patron of the church today.

In the 18th century the church was again enlarged slightly and the interior remodeled, but architectural elements from historical periods still can be seen.

Information

Bene't Street
Cambridge CB2 3PT
Tel: 01223 643 870
www: stbenetschurch.org

The church is a 30-minute walk from Cambridge Station. Alternatively, take a 1citi or 3citi bus from stop 6 at the station or the U bus from stop 8. Kettle's Yard gallery and cafe is very close.

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.

Getting to and around Cambridge. — Getting to and around 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 (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.

The pipe organ in King's College Chapel, Cambridge. — The pipe organ built originally in 1666 to 1668 in King's College Chapel, Cambridge

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.