Great St Mary's Church, Panoramic Views from the Historic Summit
City center
4.3
Introduction
Great St. Mary's Church was rebuilt on the site of an old church prior to 1478. The church is grand in scale, with high arches and windows with vertical lines. This university church was once the city church of Cambridge. Until the creation of the Old School in the 15th century, the dean and fellows met at Great St. Mary's Church. The university managed its affairs and conducted meetings here, making it the political center of Cambridge at the time. Great St. Mary's Church is one of the few churches in England with a movable pulpit that can slide into the main altar.
If you climb the steep 123 steps, you will be able to enjoy beautiful and spectacular views. In 1794, the original melody of Big Ben was composed based on the sound of the bells here.
Many famous theologians of the English Reformation preached here. On February 6, 1556, during the reign of Queen Mary, the bodies of the Protestant theologians Martin Bucer and Paul Fagius were dug up, their coffins were bound to stakes with chains, and then burned in the marketplace in Cambridge. There is now a brass plaque on the altar floor south of the church in their honor. The benchmark for the center of Cambridge is at the bottom of the west tower wall outside the church.
The church now belongs to Trinity College. Transportation BUS199 to opp Bene't Street stop.
This church is one of the highest points in Cambridge
