Our Lady & the English Martyrs is by far the largest Catholic church in Cambridge and one of the most impressive in the country, an awe-inspiring essay in Victorian Gothic of cathedral-like proportions and form. It is cruciform with a polygonal apse and most dramatically breaks the skyline with its two towers, a low square tower over the crossing and a much taller one crowned with a tapering spire on one side of the main facade.
The church we see today was built in 1885-90 to the designs of architects Dunn & Hansom and was largely the result of a generous bequest by former ballerina Yolande Lyne-Stephens. Having such a benefactor enabled the building of something far more ambitious and elaborate than the vast majority of Catholic churches in England where budget was often such a deciding factor in the form they took, here the architects were free to create an exuberant vision of French-influenced Gothic brimming with ornamental detail inside and out.
The interior of the church is no less impressive, though it takes some time to adjust to the lower light level resulting in an atmosphere that combines greatness and gloominess. The church is covered by vaulted ceilings throughout and there is much glass by Hardmans, though a good deal of this was recreated after some of the original windows were lost to wartime bomb damage.
While the church is usually open and accessible to visitors it does have an all pervading aura of prayerfulness throughout which should be respected for those who come seeking a private moment (opportunities for photography may be limited too). On my last visit I was able to end my day in Cambridge attending Mass here which was a memorable experience in this great space.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Our_Lady_and_the_English_Martyrs_Ch...
Tags: Cambridge church Catholic Cambridgeshire Victorian architecture
© All Rights Reserved
Our Lady & the English Martyrs is by far the largest Catholic church in Cambridge and one of the most impressive in the country, an awe-inspiring essay in Victorian Gothic of cathedral-like proportions and form. It is cruciform with a polygonal apse and most dramatically breaks the skyline with its two towers, a low square tower over the crossing and a much taller one crowned with a tapering spire on one side of the main facade.
The church we see today was built in 1885-90 to the designs of architects Dunn & Hansom and was largely the result of a generous bequest by former ballerina Yolande Lyne-Stephens. Having such a benefactor enabled the building of something far more ambitious and elaborate than the vast majority of Catholic churches in England where budget was often such a deciding factor in the form they took, here the architects were free to create an exuberant vision of French-influenced Gothic brimming with ornamental detail inside and out.
The interior of the church is no less impressive, though it takes some time to adjust to the lower light level resulting in an atmosphere that combines greatness and gloominess. The church is covered by vaulted ceilings throughout and there is much glass by Hardmans, though a good deal of this was recreated after some of the original windows were lost to wartime bomb damage.
While the church is usually open and accessible to visitors it does have an all pervading aura of prayerfulness throughout which should be respected for those who come seeking a private moment (opportunities for photography may be limited too). On my last visit I was able to end my day in Cambridge attending Mass here which was a memorable experience in this great space.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Our_Lady_and_the_English_Martyrs_Ch...
Tags: Cambridge church Catholic Cambridgeshire Victorian architecture
© All Rights Reserved
Our Lady & the English Martyrs is by far the largest Catholic church in Cambridge and one of the most impressive in the country, an awe-inspiring essay in Victorian Gothic of cathedral-like proportions and form. It is cruciform with a polygonal apse and most dramatically breaks the skyline with its two towers, a low square tower over the crossing and a much taller one crowned with a tapering spire on one side of the main facade.
The church we see today was built in 1885-90 to the designs of architects Dunn & Hansom and was largely the result of a generous bequest by former ballerina Yolande Lyne-Stephens. Having such a benefactor enabled the building of something far more ambitious and elaborate than the vast majority of Catholic churches in England where budget was often such a deciding factor in the form they took, here the architects were free to create an exuberant vision of French-influenced Gothic brimming with ornamental detail inside and out.
The interior of the church is no less impressive, though it takes some time to adjust to the lower light level resulting in an atmosphere that combines greatness and gloominess. The church is covered by vaulted ceilings throughout and there is much glass by Hardmans, though a good deal of this was recreated after some of the original windows were lost to wartime bomb damage.
While the church is usually open and accessible to visitors it does have an all pervading aura of prayerfulness throughout which should be respected for those who come seeking a private moment (opportunities for photography may be limited too). On my last visit I was able to end my day in Cambridge attending Mass here which was a memorable experience in this great space.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Our_Lady_and_the_English_Martyrs_Ch...
Tags: Cambridge church Catholic Cambridgeshire Victorian architecture
© All Rights Reserved
Our Lady & the English Martyrs is by far the largest Catholic church in Cambridge and one of the most impressive in the country, an awe-inspiring essay in Victorian Gothic of cathedral-like proportions and form. It is cruciform with a polygonal apse and most dramatically breaks the skyline with its two towers, a low square tower over the crossing and a much taller one crowned with a tapering spire on one side of the main facade.
The church we see today was built in 1885-90 to the designs of architects Dunn & Hansom and was largely the result of a generous bequest by former ballerina Yolande Lyne-Stephens. Having such a benefactor enabled the building of something far more ambitious and elaborate than the vast majority of Catholic churches in England where budget was often such a deciding factor in the form they took, here the architects were free to create an exuberant vision of French-influenced Gothic brimming with ornamental detail inside and out.
The interior of the church is no less impressive, though it takes some time to adjust to the lower light level resulting in an atmosphere that combines greatness and gloominess. The church is covered by vaulted ceilings throughout and there is much glass by Hardmans, though a good deal of this was recreated after some of the original windows were lost to wartime bomb damage.
While the church is usually open and accessible to visitors it does have an all pervading aura of prayerfulness throughout which should be respected for those who come seeking a private moment (opportunities for photography may be limited too). On my last visit I was able to end my day in Cambridge attending Mass here which was a memorable experience in this great space.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Our_Lady_and_the_English_Martyrs_Ch...
Tags: Cambridge church Catholic Cambridgeshire Victorian architecture
© All Rights Reserved
Our Lady & the English Martyrs is by far the largest Catholic church in Cambridge and one of the most impressive in the country, an awe-inspiring essay in Victorian Gothic of cathedral-like proportions and form. It is cruciform with a polygonal apse and most dramatically breaks the skyline with its two towers, a low square tower over the crossing and a much taller one crowned with a tapering spire on one side of the main facade.
The church we see today was built in 1885-90 to the designs of architects Dunn & Hansom and was largely the result of a generous bequest by former ballerina Yolande Lyne-Stephens. Having such a benefactor enabled the building of something far more ambitious and elaborate than the vast majority of Catholic churches in England where budget was often such a deciding factor in the form they took, here the architects were free to create an exuberant vision of French-influenced Gothic brimming with ornamental detail inside and out.
The interior of the church is no less impressive, though it takes some time to adjust to the lower light level resulting in an atmosphere that combines greatness and gloominess. The church is covered by vaulted ceilings throughout and there is much glass by Hardmans, though a good deal of this was recreated after some of the original windows were lost to wartime bomb damage.
While the church is usually open and accessible to visitors it does have an all pervading aura of prayerfulness throughout which should be respected for those who come seeking a private moment (opportunities for photography may be limited too). On my last visit I was able to end my day in Cambridge attending Mass here which was a memorable experience in this great space.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Our_Lady_and_the_English_Martyrs_Ch...
Tags: Cambridge church Catholic Cambridgeshire Victorian architecture
© All Rights Reserved