Church of St Mary the Great, Anglican church in Market Square, Cambridge, England
The Church of St Mary the Great is an Anglican place of worship on Market Square in central Cambridge. Its tower of pale stone rises above the market stalls and surrounding streets with Gothic pointed arches and tall windows.
Construction began in 1478 under Edward IV and continued until 1519 during the reign of Henry VIII. During this period the church grew into the central place of worship for both university and town.
The bells here first played the Westminster Quarters melody before Big Ben adopted it. They still ring out across the market square today, marking the hours for students and visitors alike.
The tower is reached by a narrow spiral staircase with more than a hundred steps. At the top, the platform offers wide views over the colleges and city center all around.
This church marks the zero point from which all distances in Cambridge are measured. It also once determined the residence limits for university members within the town.
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