Top Things to Do in Cambridge: Great St Mary's Church with town & Gown Tours
Great St Mary’s Church is the original home of the University of Cambridge. It was here that in 1209 scholars from the University of Oxford founded the University of Cambridge. The scholars from Oxford (the ‘Gownies’) arrived in Cambridge after fleeing the violent conflict with the townspeople of Oxford (the ‘Townies’).
The original church, the foundations of which dated back to 1010, was destroyed in a fire in 1290. The church had to be entirely rebuilt and much of what can be seen today was constructed between 1478-1519, whilst the tower was completed in 1608.
Initially the church was owned by the crown, but in 1342 it was granted to King’s Hall. After Henry VIII merged King’s Hall with Michaelhouse to form Trinity College in 1534, Great St Mary’s Church came under the ownership of Trinity College, who continue to manage it today.
Throughout the Medieval period Great St Mary’s Church served as a site for lectures and debates. The church continued to serve as an official meeting hall and site of degree ceremonies until the Senate House was constructed across the street in 1730 and took over these functions.
In 1725, William Warren erected the first milestones in Britain since Roman times. He chose Great St Mary’s Church as the starting point — making the church the official centre of Cambridge.
The church also remains the official centre of the University of Cambridge. Even today, the University Statutes require all undergraduate students to live within a three mile radius of Great St Mary’s Church.
As both the official centre of the town and the gown, Great St Mary’s Church is the perfect place to begin any tour of Cambridge and you book your spot on one of our tours here.
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