St Bene't's Church Cambridge
A Place of Prayer and Christian Worship for 1,000 Years
A Lively, Diverse and Inclusive Christian Community Today
St. Bene't's Church has been a Christian presence in the area of Cambridgeshire for over
nine hundred years. It is considered to be the oldest surviving church and
also the oldest surviving building in the county. It has been identified as a
building of late Saxon construction, dated to around 1025. The church was dedicated
to Saint Benedict, whose sixth-century monastic rule became a guide to many
communities of monks and nuns throughout western monasticism. In 1352 the new
Corpus Christi College adopted St.
Bene't's Church as its chapel, a status that the church retained
until 1579. St. Bene't's Church enjoyed the patronage of the
Guild of Corpus Christi, and many Fellows of the college served the parish as
priests. In 1946 the church was placed in the care of the Society of Francis,
the Anglican Franciscans.
A. The North Porch
B. The North Aisle
C. The Organ
D. The Chancel
E. The Nave
F. The West Tower
G. The South Aisle
H. The Vestry
1. 17th-century refectory table and bench.
2. Late medieval ironbound chest.
3. A list of benefactors on two large boards painted in 1735.
4. 18th-century marble font.
5. 13th-century coffin lid, 17th-century funeral bier and 17/18th-century fire hook for pulling burning thatch from the roof.
6. 15th-century brass of R. Billingford covered by carpet.
7. Niche made in the 15th-century from masonry removed from another part of the Saxon tower.
8. Meeting and meditation rooms.
1. Saxon window now containing a representation of St. Benedict.
2. Saxon arch.
3. Animal carvings, possibly lions.
4. “Long and short” stone dressing typical of Saxon masons.
5. Arcading dating from about 1300.
6. Another example of “long and short” work. This is the northwestern corner of the Saxon building.
1. 19th-century chancel arch.
2. Blind recesses previously opening to a chapel or room above the vestry.
3. Curved ogee arches of 14th-century sedilia and piscina.
4. Arcading dating from about 1300.
5. St. Anne's altar. The altar stone is medieval and may have formed part of the original high altar.
6. 16th-century staircase leading to the former upper chapel.
 |
 |
|
St. Bene't's Church, Cambridge.
Remains of the Saxon arch.
Photo by Harriet Smith.
|
St. Bene't's Church, Cambridge.
The Saxon tower and rooftops.
Photo by Dr. R.F. Griffin.
|
 |
 |
|
St. Bene't's Church, Cambridge.
The Saxon Arch with St. Benedict window above.
|
St. Bene't's Church, Cambridge.
A figure from the Saxon arch.
Photo by Harriet Smith.
|
 |
 |
|
St. Bene't's Church, Cambridge.
The west tower.
Photo by Paul E.
Szarmach
|
St. Bene't's Church, Cambridge.
The north porch.
Photo by Paul E. Szarmach.
|
 |
St. Bene't's Church, Cambridge.
Not only the oldest church in
Cambridgeshire, but also the oldest building,
being of late Saxon origin. The tower is the most notable part of the
dressings, and apart from the 15th-century windows, it remains almost
unaltered. The church was once used as the chapel to Corpus Christi
College.
Photo by A.M. Photography.
|
This page last changed Tue May 24 00:57:18 2005