Great St Mary's, Cambridge

Church of St Mary the Great
Church of St Mary the Great
Church of St Mary the Great Location in central Cambridge
52°12′19″N 0°07′06″E / 52.2053°N 0.1182°E / 52.2053; 0.1182Coordinates: 52°12′19″N 0°07′06″E / 52.2053°N 0.1182°E / 52.2053; 0.1182
Location	Great St Mary's, The University Church, Senate House Hill, Cambridge, CB2 3PQ
Country	United Kingdom
Denomination	Church of England
Website	gsm.cam.ac.uk
Architecture
Style	Late Perpendicular Gothic
Years built	1478–1519
Administration
Diocese	Ely
Clergy
Vicar(s)	John Binns

St Mary the Great is a Church of England parish and university church at the north end of King's Parade in central Cambridge, England. It is known locally as Great St Mary's or simply GSM to distinguish it from "Little St Mary's". It is one of the Greater Churches. It is designated by Historic England as a Grade I listed building.

In addition to being a parish church in the Diocese of Ely, it is the university church for the University of Cambridge. As such it has a minor role in the university's legislation: for example, university officers must live within 20 miles of Great St Mary's and undergraduates within three. The church also hosts the "University Sermons" and houses the University Organ and the University Clock. The latter chimes the "Cambridge Chimes" which were later used by the clock tower of the Houses of Parliament ("Big Ben").

The first mention of the church is a record of King John presenting Thomas de Chimeleye to the rectory in 1205. The first church on the site of the current one was built in 1205, but this was mostly destroyed by fire 9 July 1290 and then rebuilt. At the time, this fire was attributed to the Jewish population of the city, with the result that the synagogue was closed. Prior to 1352, it was known as The Church of St Mary the Virgin, but since that year has become known by its modern name. During its early years, the church was the property of the crown, but on 15 July 1342, the land was passed to King's Hall. Ownership then passed to Trinity College, where it has rested since.

The orders for the consecration of the new church were sent out on 17 May 1346, but were not enacted until 15 March 1351.

In the Middle Ages it became an official gathering place for meetings and debates for Cambridge University, but this ceased in 1730 when the University's Senate House was built across the street.