Peering up at that towering spire, consider the Church of Our Lady and the English Martyrs. It’s more than just a pretty building. It’s a testament to faith and architectural ambition. This Roman Catholic parish church stands proudly at the junction of Hills Road and Lensfield Road. It is a significant landmark in Cambridge.
The Church of Our Lady and the English Martyrs is commonly known as OLEM. This impressive Gothic Revival church was constructed between 1885 and 1890. OLEM holds the distinction of being the tallest building in Cambridge. Its spire stretches 65 meters into the sky.
Pause for a moment. Imagine Cambridge in the mid-19th century. The first post-Reformation Roman Catholic church was St Andrew’s Catholic Church which opened in 1843. It served the Catholic community until OLEM’s construction. Canon Thomas Quinlivan secured additional land in 1865. However, he struggled to raise funds for a new church.
Enter the Duke of Norfolk. He aided in purchasing the Lensfield estate in 1879. Monsignor Christopher Scott then took up the fundraising challenge. On the Feast of the Assumption in 1884, Yolande Lyne-Stephens stepped in. The former ballerina and widow offered £70,000 for the church’s construction. That’s equivalent to millions today.
Rattee and Kett undertook the building work in 1885. They followed the designs of architects Dunn and Hansom. The foundation stone was laid in June 1887. The construction of a Catholic church faced controversy. There were tensions among local Anglicans and university members. Despite Yolande Lyne-Stephens’s ill health, the church was completed. It was consecrated on October 8 1890. The first Mass was attended by numerous Catholic bishops. St Andrew’s Church was then dismantled. It was rebuilt in St Ives as Sacred Heart Church in 1902.
Following its opening, OLEM experienced a surge in parish members. This was partly due to Fr Robert Benson’s preaching. Monsignor Scott’s efforts also played a role. The church hosted the 1921 Bible Congress. It was the largest Catholic gathering in Cambridge since the Reformation.
Tragedy struck in 1941 during an air raid. A bomb damaged the sacristy and Sacred Heart chapel. Windows shattered and part of the organ gallery collapsed. Repairs cost a considerable sum but replacement windows matched the original designs.
Notice the Gothic Revival style of the Church of Our Lady and the English Martyrs. It has a traditional cruciform layout. The materials include Casterton stone for the foundation. Ancaster stone forms the plinth. Combe Down stone makes up the rest. The interior features Bath stone, Plymouth marble, and Newbiggin stone.
Gerard Goalen redesigned the sanctuary after the Second Vatican Council. Bishop Charles Grant consecrated the central altar in 1973. The original high altar is now primarily used for the Blessed Sacrament.
Look for the mid-16th-century statue of the Virgin and Child. It is said to have been discovered at Emmanuel College in 1850. Some believe it is the same statue Thomas Cromwell ordered removed in 1538.
Before we move on, remember Yolande Lyne-Stephens. Her generosity made this architectural and spiritual landmark possible. The Church of Our Lady and the English Martyrs stands as a beacon. It reflects faith, art, and the enduring spirit of Cambridge.