583:
362:
36:
531:
52:
500:
607:
59:
560:, and rededicated on 30 January 1996. It is a noted historic instrument, a significant monument to the work of William Hill, and, in addition, likely the largest repository of Father Smith pipework in a single instrument. The Parish Organ was built in 1991 by Kenneth Jones and Associates. It replaced an earlier instrument by Miller of Cambridge (one time organist of Great St Mary's) dating from 1869.
575:
To accommodate the large audiences that were present for special occasions, and in particular the
University Sermon, attendance of which was compulsory, the galleries were added in 1735. The church contains one of the few moveable pulpits in England. The font dates from 1632 and the sculpture behind
381:
presenting Thomas de
Chimeleye to the rectory in 1205. The foundations of the church may date to 1010, but the church was mostly destroyed by fire 9 July 1290 and then rebuilt. At the time, this fire was attributed to the Jewish population of the city, with the result that the synagogue was closed.
543:
St Mary the Great is unusual in housing two self-contained pipe organs, a 'Parish Organ' in the
Chancel for the regular congregation, and another in the West Gallery, called the 'University Organ', owned and maintained by the University, and played for University services. The University Organ was
345:. As such it has a role in the university's legislation. For example, university officers must live within 20 miles of Great St Mary's and undergraduates within three. The church also hosts the "University Sermons" and houses the University Organ and the University Clock. The latter chimes the "
382:
Prior to 1352, it was known as The Church of St Mary the Virgin, but since that year has become known by its modern name. During its early years, the patronage of the church (that is, the right to name the incumbent) belonged to the crown, but on 15 July 1342, the patronage was passed to
523:. The new ring of 13 bells in the key of D (including a flat bell no. 6 providing a lighter ring of 8 bells in the key of G) has a tenor weighing 24cwt. Some of the original bells have been retained to continue sounding the
511:
was formed to formalise the responsibility for ringing them. This society lays claim to being the oldest bellringing society in
Britain and the second oldest at any church in the world with a continuous ringing history.
507:
Originally, bells were hung in a wooden structure in the churchyard. In 1515 the bells were moved to the tower and the structure was dismantled. The bells were replaced in 1722 and in 1724, the
1583:
870:
721:
1598:
82:
407:
In the Middle Ages it became an official gathering place for meetings and debates for
Cambridge University, but this ceased in 1730 when the University's
1608:
414:
The present building was constructed between 1478 and 1519, with the tower finished later, in 1608. The cost of construction was covered largely by
1466:
1144:
1593:
1588:
1345:
401:
1613:
1215:
1476:
1557:
404:
of the university by townspeople in 1381, the church was entered and bulls, charters and title deeds of the university were destroyed.
365:
A plaque at the base of the west tower marks the datum point for distances from
Cambridge, which were originally marked with the first
1066:
1486:
51:
1285:
758:
408:
1531:
1375:
319:
898:
472:, the dust from the place of burning was replaced in the church and now lie under a brass floor plate in the south chancel.
1230:
1200:
1137:
1096:
614:
393:
The orders for the consecration of the new church were sent out on 17 May 1346, but were not enacted until 15 March 1351.
1618:
1536:
1335:
1315:
763:
705:(1942–2018), theoretical physicist, funeral held on 31 March 2018 prior to his cremation and interring of his ashes in
921:
441:
in 1857. The south porch was rebuilt in 1888. There has been some more restoration work during the 20th century.
1603:
1506:
1305:
1235:
1210:
1040:
946:
1578:
1481:
1431:
1385:
1340:
1275:
1260:
1130:
618:
1501:
1190:
726:
1471:
1451:
1225:
711:
Jack
Merritt (1994–2019), prison educator and mentor, funeral held on 20 December 2019 prior to his cremation
548:. It was added to over the 18th and 19th centuries until a major (yet sensitive) rebuild was carried out by
1541:
1330:
1180:
1295:
1290:
508:
1360:
1270:
1185:
387:
1380:
1280:
481:
383:
252:
155:
730:
1018:
582:
576:
the high altar is of Christ in
Majesty. This sculpture was completed in 1960. The sculpture is by
1300:
342:
814:
785:
1265:
1245:
1154:
845:
662:
553:
549:
415:
323:
138:
815:"Chapter II: Matriculation, Residence, Admission to Degrees, Discipline, Conduct, Complaints"
674:
461:
430:
361:
1446:
1370:
1240:
1074:
569:
434:
419:
390:
the patronage of the
University Church also passed to Trinity, where it has rested since.
35:
8:
1220:
856:
Cooper, Charles Henry (1866) "Memorials of
Cambridge (Volume 3)", Cambridge: Wm Metcalfe.
516:
445:
397:
183:
1122:
1511:
1411:
346:
530:
1491:
1421:
1310:
1255:
1195:
706:
465:
299:
143:
118:
1456:
1401:
1365:
1355:
754:
644:
524:
488:
327:
303:
284:
556:(again remarkably sensitive for the time) and was extensively restored in 1995 by
1426:
1350:
1250:
702:
656:
378:
331:
975:
572:. The stained glass is the work of Hardman and was added between 1867 and 1869.
1416:
1320:
638:
457:
438:
338:
240:
1572:
1461:
1406:
668:
557:
499:
484:
150:
97:
84:
1441:
1436:
1325:
1053:
696:
650:
545:
520:
453:
370:
503:
The Cambridge University Clock, set above the West door of Great St Mary's
1496:
469:
426:
349:" which were later used by the clock tower of the Houses of Parliament ("
544:
originally purchased in 1698, constructed by the renowned organ builder
1175:
577:
247:
366:
307:
122:
515:
In 2009 the old ring of bells was replaced with a new ring cast by
449:
350:
259:
235:
1117:
269:
659:(1963–1970); afterwards Bishop of Kingston, then of Birmingham
166:
722:
List of church restorations and alterations by Anthony Salvin
677:(1986–1993); afterwards Bishop of Lynn, then Dean of Windsor
586:
Cambridge University, Great St. Mary's Church (photograph
1152:
997:
846:
The city of Cambridge – Churches | British History Online
468:, Bucer's corpse was burnt in the marketplace, but under
1584:
Buildings and structures of the University of Cambridge
916:
914:
912:
910:
786:"Chapter XI: University Offices and Grants of Title"
377:
The first mention of the church is a record of King
753:
386:. When King's Hall was subsumed by Henry VIII into
759:"Church of St Mary the Great, Cambridge (1126084)"
907:
552:in 1870. The organ saw further work in 1963 from
302:parish and university church at the north end of
1570:
1599:Church of England church buildings in Cambridge
1346:Church of the Holy Trinity, Stratford-upon-Avon
1286:All Saints Church, Kingston upon Thames, London
1216:Church of St Mary and All Saints, Chesterfield
274:St. Mary The Great with St. Michael, Cambridge
1138:
841:
839:
1477:Church of St Mary Magdalene, Newark-on-Trent
665:(1973–1979); afterwards Bishop of Manchester
563:
487:of the Church of England. It is a member of
337:In addition to being a parish church in the
1558:Church of St John the Evangelist, Edinburgh
1386:St Peter's Collegiate Church, Wolverhampton
890:
653:(1959–1963); afterwards Bishop of Salisbury
647:(1955–1959); afterwards Bishop of Southwark
58:
1145:
1131:
864:
862:
836:
34:
1609:Grade I listed churches in Cambridgeshire
878:. Longman, Rrown,(sic) Green, and Longman
822:Ordinances of the University of Cambridge
793:Ordinances of the University of Cambridge
1487:Church of St Peter and St Paul, Ormskirk
922:"St Mary's University Church, Cambridge"
868:
581:
529:
498:
360:
117:Great St Mary's, The University Church,
859:
690:
1594:History of the University of Cambridge
1589:Culture of the University of Cambridge
1571:
1206:Church of St Mary the Great, Cambridge
1186:St Martin in the Bull Ring, Birmingham
1041:"Dove's Guide for Church Bell Ringers"
896:
671:(1979–1986); later Dean of Westminster
341:, it is the university church for the
1614:Grade I listed buildings in Cambridge
1532:Priory Church of St Mary, Abergavenny
1376:Collegiate Church of St Mary, Warwick
1126:
749:
747:
217:13 hung for change ringing (22 total)
1231:Church of St John the Baptist, Frome
601:
444:Various leading philosophers of the
1537:St John the Baptist Church, Cardiff
1296:St Marylebone Parish Church, London
1291:Christ Church, Spitalfields, London
568:The church is designed in the Late
519:, made possible by a donation from
13:
1336:St Mary the Virgin, Saffron Walden
764:National Heritage List for England
744:
310:, England. It is known locally as
14:
1630:
1281:All Saints Church, Fulham, London
1201:St Mary's Church, Bury St Edmunds
1111:
998:"The Society of Cambridge Youths"
939:
597:
947:"Great St Mary's Parish Profile"
699:(1491–1551), Protestant reformer
605:
464:, was buried there. Under Queen
225:Tenor bell: 24-1-1 (1232kg) in D
57:
50:
1316:All Saints' Church, Northampton
1301:St Martin-in-the-Fields, London
1089:
1059:
1033:
1011:
990:
968:
1502:Holy Trinity Church, Southport
900:Annals of Cambridge (Volume 1)
897:Cooper, Charles Henry (1845).
850:
807:
778:
534:Bell-ringing room in the tower
480:Great St Mary's stands in the
475:
437:, followed by further work by
1:
1507:St Wilfrid's Church, Standish
1452:Church of St Andrew, Kildwick
1306:St Mary's Church, Lutterworth
1236:St Wulfram's Church, Grantham
1226:Holy Trinity Church, Coventry
1019:"Martin C. Faulkes Bell Fund"
903:. Cambridge University Press.
737:
587:
411:was built across the street.
369:erected in Britain since the
71:Location in central Cambridge
18:Church in Cambridge, England
1482:St Mary's Church, Nottingham
1432:St Peter's Church, Harrogate
1341:St Chad's Church, Shrewsbury
1276:St Laurence's Church, Ludlow
1261:All Saints' Church, Hertford
7:
1191:St Botolph's Church, Boston
715:
517:Taylors Eayre and Smith Ltd
509:Society of Cambridge Youths
425:The church was restored by
40:Church of St Mary the Great
29:Church of St Mary the Great
10:
1635:
1619:Churches completed in 1519
1472:St Mary's Church, Nantwich
1361:St Mary Magdalene, Taunton
1311:St Peter Mancroft, Norwich
1196:St Mary Redcliffe, Bristol
872:The Archaeological Journal
683:Adrian Daffern (2018–2022)
356:
1551:Scottish Episcopal Church
1550:
1542:St Giles' Church, Wrexham
1524:
1394:
1331:St Andrew's Church, Rugby
1181:St Paul's Church, Bedford
1168:
1161:
1021:. University of Cambridge
869:Venables, Edward (1855).
564:Architecture and features
538:
283:
278:
268:
258:
246:
234:
229:
221:
213:
205:
200:
192:
188:Late Perpendicular Gothic
182:
177:
161:
149:
137:
129:
113:
79:
45:
33:
28:
23:
1604:Anthony Salvin buildings
494:
448:preached there, notably
318:to distinguish it from "
1467:Liverpool Parish Church
1271:St James' Church, Louth
1118:Great St Mary's website
1071:Mander Organs Portfolio
343:University of Cambridge
1579:Major Churches Network
1246:Great Yarmouth Minster
1169:Province of Canterbury
1155:Major Churches Network
956:. Diocese of Ely. 2018
680:John Binns (1994–2017)
663:Stanley Booth-Clibborn
594:
554:Hill, Norman and Beard
546:'Father' Bernard Smith
535:
504:
429:in 1766. In 1850–51 a
374:
326:. It is designated by
686:Jutta Brueck (2023–)
585:
533:
502:
462:Book of Common Prayer
364:
289:The Revd Jutta Brueck
1447:Kendal Parish Church
1371:Waltham Abbey Church
1241:Great Malvern Priory
691:Burials and funerals
619:adding missing items
435:George Gilbert Scott
322:". It is one of the
1266:King's Lynn Minster
1221:Christchurch Priory
1067:"St Mary the Great"
978:. St Mary the Great
926:Sacred Destinations
727:Holy Trinity Church
570:Perpendicular style
521:Dr Martin C Faulkes
446:English Reformation
433:was carried out by
94: /
1512:Sunderland Minster
1412:Bridlington Priory
1211:Cheltenham Minster
1103:. 21 October 2022.
617:; you can help by
595:
536:
505:
460:'s writing of the
402:associated sacking
375:
347:Cambridge Quarters
330:as a Grade I
98:52.2053°N 0.1182°E
1566:
1565:
1520:
1519:
1492:Rotherham Minster
1422:Doncaster Minster
1256:St Mary, Hadleigh
1162:Church of England
1077:on 6 October 2008
707:Westminster Abbey
635:
634:
456:, who influenced
300:Church of England
296:St Mary the Great
293:
292:
222:Tenor bell weight
144:Church of England
119:Senate House Hill
1626:
1457:Lancaster Priory
1402:Beverley Minster
1395:Province of York
1381:Wimborne Minster
1366:Tewkesbury Abbey
1356:Shrewsbury Abbey
1166:
1165:
1147:
1140:
1133:
1124:
1123:
1105:
1104:
1093:
1087:
1086:
1084:
1082:
1073:. Archived from
1063:
1057:
1051:
1049:
1047:
1037:
1031:
1030:
1028:
1026:
1015:
1009:
1008:
1006:
1004:
994:
988:
987:
985:
983:
972:
966:
965:
963:
961:
951:
943:
937:
936:
934:
932:
918:
905:
904:
894:
888:
887:
885:
883:
877:
866:
857:
854:
848:
843:
834:
833:
831:
829:
819:
811:
805:
804:
802:
800:
790:
782:
776:
775:
773:
771:
755:Historic England
751:
645:Mervyn Stockwood
630:
627:
609:
608:
602:
592:
589:
525:Cambridge Chimes
489:Inclusive Church
482:Liberal Catholic
398:Peasants' Revolt
328:Historic England
324:Greater Churches
320:Little St Mary's
285:Priest in charge
173:
170:
168:
156:Liberal Catholic
109:
108:
106:
105:
104:
99:
95:
92:
91:
90:
87:
61:
60:
54:
38:
21:
20:
1634:
1633:
1629:
1628:
1627:
1625:
1624:
1623:
1569:
1568:
1567:
1562:
1546:
1525:Church in Wales
1516:
1427:Halifax Minster
1390:
1351:Sherborne Abbey
1251:Grimsby Minster
1157:
1153:Members of the
1151:
1114:
1109:
1108:
1095:
1094:
1090:
1080:
1078:
1065:
1064:
1060:
1045:
1043:
1039:
1038:
1034:
1024:
1022:
1017:
1016:
1012:
1002:
1000:
996:
995:
991:
981:
979:
974:
973:
969:
959:
957:
954:elydatabase.org
949:
945:
944:
940:
930:
928:
920:
919:
908:
895:
891:
881:
879:
875:
867:
860:
855:
851:
844:
837:
827:
825:
817:
813:
812:
808:
798:
796:
788:
784:
783:
779:
769:
767:
752:
745:
740:
718:
703:Stephen Hawking
693:
657:Hugh Montefiore
631:
625:
622:
606:
600:
590:
566:
541:
497:
478:
388:Trinity College
359:
332:listed building
312:Great St Mary's
264:Cambridge North
165:
103:52.2053; 0.1182
102:
100:
96:
93:
88:
85:
83:
81:
80:
75:
74:
73:
72:
69:
68:
67:
66:
65:Great St Mary's
62:
41:
24:Great St Mary's
19:
12:
11:
5:
1632:
1622:
1621:
1616:
1611:
1606:
1601:
1596:
1591:
1586:
1581:
1564:
1563:
1561:
1560:
1554:
1552:
1548:
1547:
1545:
1544:
1539:
1534:
1528:
1526:
1522:
1521:
1518:
1517:
1515:
1514:
1509:
1504:
1499:
1494:
1489:
1484:
1479:
1474:
1469:
1464:
1459:
1454:
1449:
1444:
1439:
1434:
1429:
1424:
1419:
1417:Cartmel Priory
1414:
1409:
1404:
1398:
1396:
1392:
1391:
1389:
1388:
1383:
1378:
1373:
1368:
1363:
1358:
1353:
1348:
1343:
1338:
1333:
1328:
1323:
1321:Pershore Abbey
1318:
1313:
1308:
1303:
1298:
1293:
1288:
1283:
1278:
1273:
1268:
1263:
1258:
1253:
1248:
1243:
1238:
1233:
1228:
1223:
1218:
1213:
1208:
1203:
1198:
1193:
1188:
1183:
1178:
1172:
1170:
1163:
1159:
1158:
1150:
1149:
1142:
1135:
1127:
1121:
1120:
1113:
1112:External links
1110:
1107:
1106:
1097:"Appointments"
1088:
1058:
1032:
1010:
989:
967:
938:
906:
889:
858:
849:
835:
806:
777:
742:
741:
739:
736:
735:
734:
724:
717:
714:
713:
712:
709:
700:
692:
689:
688:
687:
684:
681:
678:
672:
666:
660:
654:
648:
642:
639:Philip Waggett
633:
632:
612:
610:
599:
598:List of vicars
596:
565:
562:
540:
537:
496:
493:
477:
474:
458:Thomas Cranmer
439:Anthony Salvin
358:
355:
339:Diocese of Ely
291:
290:
287:
281:
280:
276:
275:
272:
266:
265:
262:
256:
255:
250:
244:
243:
238:
232:
231:
230:Administration
227:
226:
223:
219:
218:
215:
211:
210:
207:
203:
202:
201:Specifications
198:
197:
194:
190:
189:
186:
180:
179:
175:
174:
163:
159:
158:
153:
147:
146:
141:
135:
134:
131:
127:
126:
115:
111:
110:
77:
76:
70:
64:
63:
56:
55:
49:
48:
47:
46:
43:
42:
39:
31:
30:
26:
25:
17:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1631:
1620:
1617:
1615:
1612:
1610:
1607:
1605:
1602:
1600:
1597:
1595:
1592:
1590:
1587:
1585:
1582:
1580:
1577:
1576:
1574:
1559:
1556:
1555:
1553:
1549:
1543:
1540:
1538:
1535:
1533:
1530:
1529:
1527:
1523:
1513:
1510:
1508:
1505:
1503:
1500:
1498:
1495:
1493:
1490:
1488:
1485:
1483:
1480:
1478:
1475:
1473:
1470:
1468:
1465:
1463:
1462:Leeds Minster
1460:
1458:
1455:
1453:
1450:
1448:
1445:
1443:
1440:
1438:
1435:
1433:
1430:
1428:
1425:
1423:
1420:
1418:
1415:
1413:
1410:
1408:
1407:Bolton Priory
1405:
1403:
1400:
1399:
1397:
1393:
1387:
1384:
1382:
1379:
1377:
1374:
1372:
1369:
1367:
1364:
1362:
1359:
1357:
1354:
1352:
1349:
1347:
1344:
1342:
1339:
1337:
1334:
1332:
1329:
1327:
1324:
1322:
1319:
1317:
1314:
1312:
1309:
1307:
1304:
1302:
1299:
1297:
1294:
1292:
1289:
1287:
1284:
1282:
1279:
1277:
1274:
1272:
1269:
1267:
1264:
1262:
1259:
1257:
1254:
1252:
1249:
1247:
1244:
1242:
1239:
1237:
1234:
1232:
1229:
1227:
1224:
1222:
1219:
1217:
1214:
1212:
1209:
1207:
1204:
1202:
1199:
1197:
1194:
1192:
1189:
1187:
1184:
1182:
1179:
1177:
1174:
1173:
1171:
1167:
1164:
1160:
1156:
1148:
1143:
1141:
1136:
1134:
1129:
1128:
1125:
1119:
1116:
1115:
1102:
1098:
1092:
1076:
1072:
1068:
1062:
1055:
1042:
1036:
1020:
1014:
999:
993:
977:
971:
955:
948:
942:
927:
923:
917:
915:
913:
911:
902:
901:
893:
874:
873:
865:
863:
853:
847:
842:
840:
824:. p. 178
823:
816:
810:
795:. p. 680
794:
787:
781:
766:
765:
760:
756:
750:
748:
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