Little St Mary's, Cambridge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Little St Mary's, Cambridge |
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The church, viewed from the North West
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 Little St Mary's, Cambridge
Location in Central Cambridge
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| 52°12′04″N 0°07′05″E / 52.20114°N 0.11812°E | |
| Location | Cambridge |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Anglican |
| Churchmanship | Anglo-Catholic |
| Website | http://www.lsm.org.uk |
| History | |
| Dedication | Blessed Virgin Mary |
| Dedicated | 1352 |
Little St Mary's Church, also known as St Mary the Less, is an old church in Cambridge, England. It is located on Trumpington Street, right between Pembroke College and Peterhouse.
This church is part of the Church of England. It follows a special tradition called Anglo-Catholic, which means it has a more traditional style of worship. Besides its main Sunday service, the church holds daily morning and evening prayers. They also have regular weekday Communion services and celebrate important church festivals. Little St Mary's helps people who are thinking about becoming priests. The church also supports people in other countries and helps local projects for mental health. It also takes part in a project to help people experiencing homelessness.
The current vicar, who is like the main priest, is Canon Robert Mackley. He has been leading the church since 2012.
Contents
History of Little St Mary's
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There has been a place of worship on this spot for a very long time, possibly since the 1100s. The first church here was called St Peter-without-Trumpington Gate. This name helped people tell it apart from another church called St Peter by the Castle.
The church was managed by the same family for three generations until 1207. After that, it was given to the Hospital of St John the Evangelist. Priests from that hospital then served the church.
The Church and Peterhouse College
In the early 1280s, Hugh de Balsham, who was the Bishop of Ely, allowed some students to live at the Hospital. However, he soon realized that the sick people and the students did not get along well. So, in 1284, the students were moved to where Peterhouse College is today. This was the beginning of the very first college in Cambridge!
By the 1340s, the church building was in poor condition. The people from Peterhouse College decided to rebuild it. In 1352, the new building had two purposes: it was both the College Chapel for Peterhouse and the local Parish Church. At this time, it was given a new dedication to the Blessed Virgin Mary.
In 1632, Peterhouse College built its own separate chapel. After that, St Mary the Less became only a Parish Church again.
Changes Over Time
Richard Crashaw, a famous poet, was a priest at Little St Mary's from 1638 to 1643. He was also a Fellow at Peterhouse during this time.
In 1643, after Crashaw left, many of the church's decorations and statues were damaged or destroyed. This was done by William Dowsing, who was a Puritan and believed these items were wrong. For example, parts of the sedilia (seats for priests) and the archway to the Lady Chapel were broken and have never been fixed.
A quote from that time says:
1643. At Little Mary’s, December 29, 30, we brake downe 60 superstitious pictures, some popes, and crucifixes, and God the Father sitting in a chayer, and holding a globe in His hand.
In 1741, the church was updated with wooden panels, box pews (enclosed seats), a choir gallery, and the pulpit you see today. From 1856 to 1857, Sir George Gilbert Scott restored the church and removed the 18th-century wooden panels. More restoration work happened in 1876 and 1891. By 1880, the church looked much like it does now.
The south side of the church has a special area called the Lady Chapel. It was added in 1931 and designed by Thomas Henry Lyon. The Parish Centre, at the west end of the church, was built in 1892. It was made bigger in 1990 and again in 2011.
The Reverend Godfrey Washington, who passed away on September 28, 1729, is buried in Little St Mary's. He was the great-uncle of George Washington, who later became the first President of the United States. His memorial is on the north wall, near the main door.
Little St Mary's has been recognized as a Grade II* listed building since 1950. This means it is a very important historical building.
Stained Glass Windows
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North-east window, made by Charles Eamer Kempe.
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Stained glass by Harry Stammers, showing Jesus as a boy in the Temple.
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Saints Michael and Gabriel by John Samuel Bucknall (1917-1989).
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Saints Stephen and Martin by F. C. Eden, put in place in 1936 to remember Edwin Charles Ogle.
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Saints Andrew and Elisabeth by F. C. Eden.
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Saints Teresa and Nicholas. This is the left side of a four-part window by F. C. Eden, placed to remember Mary Hamblin Clay (1860-1929).
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Saints Francis and Monica. This is the right side of a four-part window by F. C. Eden, also placed to remember Mary Hamblin Clay (1860-1929).
