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The history of Great St Mary's

The older building

The earliest record of a church on this site is from 1205, in the reign of King John, and this record shows that the church was already well-established by that date. In 1290 much of the building was destroyed by fire, and was rebuilt slowly after that.

The Middle Ages

Being the most substantial building in any community, churches were used for public functions in the Middle Ages, and as Cambridge University grew, it naturally sought to use the town's largest church for its official meetings and disputations (debates). It was also used for annual ceremonies such as the conferment of degrees, until the Senate House (just across the road, to the west of the church) was built in 1730.

The great rebuilding

In the mid-fifteenth century the University decided that the church building was too small for its purposes, and helped in the raising of funds for rebuilding. The building work started in 1478, and was completed in 1519, except for the tower, which was started at 6.45 p.m. on 16th May, 1478, and completed in 1608.

Great St Mary's and the Reformation

The leaders of the English Reformation preached in this church -- Erasmus, Cranmer, Latimer and Ridley. Martin Bucer, who influenced Cranmer when he composed the Book of Common Prayer, was buried here. When Mary came to the throne, she placed the church under an interdict and ordered Bucer's corpse to be burnt in the market place. Under Queen Elizabeth I, the dust where Bucer was burnt was brought to the church and placed beneath the brass incscription on the south side of the High Altar.

When Oliver Cromwell became ``Protector'', he suppressed the English Church. At his command the Book of Common Prayer was destroyed in the chancel.

Teaching the multitudes

The University Sermon was for many years a popular occasion both with students (who were fined for non-attendance) and with other local residents, and in 1735 the University added the galleries which greatly increase the seating capacity. University Sermons are still preached on some Sundays during University Full Term, at the time otherwise taken by Matins. There are also occasional series of talks on Sunday evenings, at the time previously used for the University Sermon for many years.

New challenges

The 19th century saw great changes in religious thought and practice in Britain, with revival movements in several areas of the church. The Tractarian movement in particular emphasized reverence and sacramental worship, and this led to the removal of the east and west galleries (leaving the present north and south ones which are there to this day) and thus opening up the chancel to a clearer view from the nave.