Church of St Mary the Less, Cambridge

Little St Mary's, Cambridge
The church, viewed from the North West
Little St Mary's, Cambridge Location in central Cambridge
52°12′04″N 0°07′05″E / 52.20114°N 0.11812°E / 52.20114; 0.11812Coordinates: 52°12′04″N 0°07′05″E / 52.20114°N 0.11812°E / 52.20114; 0.11812
Location	Cambridge
Country	England
Denomination	Anglican
Website	http://www.lsm.org.uk
History
Dedication	Blessed Virgin Mary
Dedicated	1352

Little St Mary's or St Mary the Less is an Anglican parish church in Cambridge, England, on Trumpington Street between Emmanuel United Reformed Church and Peterhouse. The church Is in the Diocese of Ely and follows the 'Anglo-Catholic' or 'high-church' tradition of the Church of England. In addition to its main Sunday worship, the church has a strong tradition of daily morning and evening prayer, regular weekday Communion and the keeping of church festivals. The church has a particular ministry helping men and women to explore possible vocations to the priesthood. Little St Mary's has active overseas mission links, provides support to local mental health projects, and participates in Hope Cambridge's Churches Homeless Project. At present, the vicar is The Rev. Dr Robert Mackley.

There has been a place of worship on the current site since around the twelfth century. The earliest known records of the church state that the first church here, called St Peter-without-Trumpington Gate, was controlled by three successive generations of the same family until 1207. After that date it was given to the Hospital of St John the Evangelist and served by chaplains from that foundation.

"[1643] At Little Mary’s...we brake downe 60 superstitious pictures, some popes, and crucifixes, and God the Father sitting in a chayer, and holding a globe in his hand."