Considering what happened in 1555 gives the University Church of St Mary the Virgin a special meaning. This is where bishops Latimer and Ridley and Archbishop Cranmer faced trial for heresy. They were later burned at the stake. A cross marks the location of their burning. It stands on what is now Broad Street.
The University Church of St Mary the Virgin stands as a beacon of Oxford’s heritage. It represents faith scholarship and community. It is also known as St Mary’s or SMV for short. This Anglican church is on the north side of the High Street.
St Mary’s is more than just a church. It is the heart of Oxford University’s beginnings. Its parish includes university and college buildings.
Let’s delve into its history. A church stood here in Anglo-Saxon times. By the early 13th century St Mary’s became the university’s first building. Lectures were held here. Degrees were awarded within its walls. Around 1320 a two-story building was added. It housed the first university library.
Adam de Brome became rector in 1320. He linked the church’s fortune to Oriel College. Brome diverted church revenues to his college. The college then appointed the vicar. They also provided chaplains for daily services.
The tower of St Mary the Virgin dates back to around 1270. The decorated spire was added in the 1320s. Some say it is one of England’s most beautiful spires. You can climb the 13th-century tower for a fee. It offers great views of the city.
Look at the Baroque porch facing High Street. Nicholas Stone designed it. Some church historians consider it one of England’s most beautiful. Notice the statue of the Virgin and Child. Bullet holes mark it. Cromwellian troopers caused this damage.
Until the 17th century St Mary’s hosted prayers and graduation ceremonies. William Laud found this mixing of sacred and secular unsettling. He initiated the building of the Sheldonian Theatre for ceremonies. After that St Mary’s was reserved for worship.
John Wesley preached sermons here while in Oxford. His sermons sometimes challenged the university’s spiritual state. After one such sermon he was never asked to preach again.
In 1828 John Henry Newman became vicar. His sermons drew undergraduates. John Keble’s sermon in 1833 is said to have started the Oxford Movement. This movement sought to revive Catholic spirituality. Newman later joined the Roman Catholic Church.
Inside St Mary the Virgin admire the stained glass windows. Some are remnants from the 15th century. Others are from the 19th century designed by Augustus Pugin. The west window is from 1891 by C. E. Kempe.
The church boasts a classical organ built in 1986. Metzler Orgelbau made it. It was inspired by an older organ from 1676.
Today St Mary’s welcomes visitors throughout the year. It holds services and remains a spiritual center for the university. Its history echoes through its stones. Its spire remains an iconic part of Oxford’s skyline. The current vicar is the Revd Canon William Lamb. Services enhance by the choir of the University Church. Visiting preachers are common too.
St Mary the Virgin stands as a testament to Oxford’s evolving story. Its walls have seen debates trials and revivals. It continues to inspire faith learning and reflection.