St Clement's Church, Cambridge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Clement's Church, Cambridge |
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| 52°12′33″N 0°07′05″E / 52.2091°N 0.1180°E | |
| Location | Bridge Street, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, CB2 1UF |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Churchmanship | Prayer Book Catholic |
| History | |
| Status | Active |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Parish church |
| Heritage designation | Grade II* listed |
| Specifications | |
| Bells | 6 (English Change Ringing) |
| Tenor bell weight | 6–1–11 |
| Administration | |
| Parish | St Clement, Cambridge |
| Deanery | Cambridge North |
| Archdeaconry | Archdeaconry of Cambridge |
| Diocese | Diocese of Ely |
St Clement's Church is a special old building in the heart of Cambridge, England. It's a Church of England parish church, meaning it serves the local community. This church is so important that it's a Grade II* listed building, which protects its history and unique features.
Contents
Where is St Clement's Church?
You can find St Clement's Church on Bridge Street, Cambridge. This area is part of a special conservation zone in central Cambridge. The churchyard is like a peaceful green space in the middle of the street. Many old buildings are nearby, including the Old Vicarage, which is right next to the churchyard.
The Church's Long History
The church you see today was built in the early 1200s. People believe it stands on the spot of an even older building. The walls are made of rough stone and some brick. Parts of the church, like the main hall (called the nave) and the South door, are still from the 1200s.
In the 1300s, some parts of the church were rebuilt. A special font, used for baptisms, was added. In 1538, more changes happened. The windows were updated, and the side areas (aisles) were rebuilt and made wider. The church's ownership moved from St Radegund's Priory to Jesus College.
The current back part of the church, called the chancel, was built in brick in 1726. It replaced an older one that was taken down in 1568. Inside, there's a beautiful painting from 1872 on the east wall. It shows Christ surrounded by angels and saints. The tower was added in 1821–22 and used to have a tall spire, but this was removed in 1928. A small room for clergy, called a vestry, was built in 1866. In 1933, a special chapel was created in the south aisle.
St Clement's has the oldest memorial for a Mayor of Cambridge. It's a tombstone for Eudo of Helpringham, who passed away in 1329. He was mayor six times! The inscription on his tombstone uses an early form of "Cambridge." In the north aisle, there's a carved wooden beam from around 1538. It's thought to show that Thomas Brakyn, who lived nearby, helped pay for the church's updates. He is buried in the churchyard. The church's records, like birth and marriage registers, started in 1560.
Church Life Through the Years
Many important people have served at St Clement's. One notable Vicar was Canon Edmund Gough de Salis Wood. He worked at the church from 1865 to 1930. He lived in the Old Vicarage next door and was buried in the churchyard. He followed a traditional style of worship but stuck closely to the Book of Common Prayer. He even helped start a group to support churches with similar traditions. He was also an expert on church law. The chapel in the south aisle is a memorial to him.
After Canon Wood, Fr James Tait Plowden-Wardlaw became Vicar from 1931 to 1941. He continued the church's traditional style. He often wrote books under names like 'Father Clement'. Later, Fr Cuthbert Cubitt Keet, another traditional priest, served the church. He was an expert on the psalms, which are religious songs. More recently, the Venerable David Walser and Fr Ian McMahon were priests here.
St Clement's Today
From 1968, a Greek Orthodox group used St Clement's until they moved to their own church. Today, St Clement's is home to the Parish of St Ephraim the Syrian. This is an English-speaking Russian Orthodox parish.
After a period without a permanent priest, a plan was approved in 2013 to help the church grow. A new Priest-in-Charge, Canon Nick Moir, started in 2014. The church is working to renew itself, continuing its traditional practices within the Church of England. In 2016, the church received a grant of £94,000 to help with repairs and preservation.
St Clement's is a traditional church. In 2022, a bell-ringing group called the Society of Cambridge Youths installed a set of bells at the church.
Clergy Who Served St Clement's
- Laurence Chaderton
- William Cowie
- Lionel Gatford
- Arthur Ward
- James Tait Plowden-Wardlaw
