St Edward King and Martyr, Cambridge
Encyclopedia
St Edward King and Martyr is a church located on Peas Hill
in central Cambridge
, England
. It is dedicated to Edward the Martyr
, King of England from 975 until his murder in 978. It was at St Edward's in 1525 that what is said to have been the first sermon of the English Reformation
took place, and the church is sometimes labelled the "Cradle of the Reformation".
church. In around 1400 the church was rebuilt, creating the present chancel
and arches of the nave
, though the arch at the base of the tower dates from the original building. There are some pictures and a description at the Cambridgeshire Churches website .
When Henry VI
ordered the clearing of land in order to create King's College
, the church of St John Zachary
that was used by both Trinity Hall
and Clare
was demolished. In 1445, by way of recompense, the living of St Edward's church was granted to Trinity Hall, and the chaplain is still appointed by the college. Two fifteenth century side-chapels were built in St Edward's, with the North chapel used by Trinity Hall, and the South by Clare.
. During the 1520s a group of evangelicals led by Thomas Bilney
had been meeting to discuss the preachings of Martin Luther
and Erasmus's translation of the New Testament
.
At the Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve 1525, one of the group, Robert Barnes, gave what is believed to be the first openly evangelical sermon in any English church, and accused the Catholic Church of heresy
. Over the next decade many of the great reformers preached at St Edward's, including Hugh Latimer
, who was a regular preacher until he left Cambridge in 1531. These events have led to St Edward's being referred to as the "Cradle of the Reformation".
During the 1930s, St Edward's served as the Toc H
church for the east of England, and became popular with students, who referred to it as "Teddy's".
The present East window was designed by George Gilbert Scott
and was added during the restorations of 1858–60. The theologian F. D. Maurice
was chaplain at St Edward's from 1870–2.
The church holds a weekly Gothic Eucharist.
The present chaplain is Fraser Watts.
Peas Hill
Peas Hill is a street in central Cambridge, England. It runs between Wheeler Street to the south and Market Hill to the north. King's Parade runs parallel with the street to the west...
in central Cambridge
Cambridge
The city of Cambridge is a university town and the administrative centre of the county of Cambridgeshire, England. It lies in East Anglia about north of London. Cambridge is at the heart of the high-technology centre known as Silicon Fen – a play on Silicon Valley and the fens surrounding the...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. It is dedicated to Edward the Martyr
Edward the Martyr
Edward the Martyr was king of the English from 975 until he was murdered in 978. Edward was the eldest son of King Edgar, but not his father's acknowledged heir...
, King of England from 975 until his murder in 978. It was at St Edward's in 1525 that what is said to have been the first sermon of the English Reformation
English Reformation
The English Reformation was the series of events in 16th-century England by which the Church of England broke away from the authority of the Pope and the Roman Catholic Church....
took place, and the church is sometimes labelled the "Cradle of the Reformation".
Foundation
The present church was founded in the thirteenth century on what is believed to be the site of an earlier Anglo-SaxonAnglo-Saxon
Anglo-Saxon may refer to:* Anglo-Saxons, a group that invaded Britain** Old English, their language** Anglo-Saxon England, their history, one of various ships* White Anglo-Saxon Protestant, an ethnicity* Anglo-Saxon economy, modern macroeconomic term...
church. In around 1400 the church was rebuilt, creating the present chancel
Chancel
In church architecture, the chancel is the space around the altar in the sanctuary at the liturgical east end of a traditional Christian church building...
and arches of the nave
Nave
In Romanesque and Gothic Christian abbey, cathedral basilica and church architecture, the nave is the central approach to the high altar, the main body of the church. "Nave" was probably suggested by the keel shape of its vaulting...
, though the arch at the base of the tower dates from the original building. There are some pictures and a description at the Cambridgeshire Churches website .
When Henry VI
Henry VI of England
Henry VI was King of England from 1422 to 1461 and again from 1470 to 1471, and disputed King of France from 1422 to 1453. Until 1437, his realm was governed by regents. Contemporaneous accounts described him as peaceful and pious, not suited for the violent dynastic civil wars, known as the Wars...
ordered the clearing of land in order to create King's College
King's College, Cambridge
King's College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England. The college's full name is "The King's College of our Lady and Saint Nicholas in Cambridge", but it is usually referred to simply as "King's" within the University....
, the church of St John Zachary
John the Baptist
John the Baptist was an itinerant preacher and a major religious figure mentioned in the Canonical gospels. He is described in the Gospel of Luke as a relative of Jesus, who led a movement of baptism at the Jordan River...
that was used by both Trinity Hall
Trinity Hall, Cambridge
Trinity Hall is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England. It is the fifth-oldest college of the university, having been founded in 1350 by William Bateman, Bishop of Norwich.- Foundation :...
and Clare
Clare College, Cambridge
Clare College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge in Cambridge, England.The college was founded in 1326, making it the second-oldest surviving college of the University after Peterhouse. Clare is famous for its chapel choir and for its gardens on "the Backs"...
was demolished. In 1445, by way of recompense, the living of St Edward's church was granted to Trinity Hall, and the chaplain is still appointed by the college. Two fifteenth century side-chapels were built in St Edward's, with the North chapel used by Trinity Hall, and the South by Clare.
Reformation
St Edward's played a pivotal role in the English ReformationEnglish Reformation
The English Reformation was the series of events in 16th-century England by which the Church of England broke away from the authority of the Pope and the Roman Catholic Church....
. During the 1520s a group of evangelicals led by Thomas Bilney
Thomas Bilney
Thomas Bilney was an English Christian martyr.- Education :Bilney was born in or after 1495 at or near Norwich. He was educated at Trinity Hall, Cambridge, graduating LL.B. and taking holy orders in 1519...
had been meeting to discuss the preachings of Martin Luther
Martin Luther
Martin Luther was a German priest, professor of theology and iconic figure of the Protestant Reformation. He strongly disputed the claim that freedom from God's punishment for sin could be purchased with money. He confronted indulgence salesman Johann Tetzel with his Ninety-Five Theses in 1517...
and Erasmus's translation of the New Testament
New Testament
The New Testament is the second major division of the Christian biblical canon, the first such division being the much longer Old Testament....
.
At the Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve 1525, one of the group, Robert Barnes, gave what is believed to be the first openly evangelical sermon in any English church, and accused the Catholic Church of heresy
Heresy
Heresy is a controversial or novel change to a system of beliefs, especially a religion, that conflicts with established dogma. It is distinct from apostasy, which is the formal denunciation of one's religion, principles or cause, and blasphemy, which is irreverence toward religion...
. Over the next decade many of the great reformers preached at St Edward's, including Hugh Latimer
Hugh Latimer
Hugh Latimer was a Fellow of Clare College, Cambridge, Bishop of Worcester before the Reformation, and later Church of England chaplain to King Edward VI. In 1555, under Queen Mary, he was burnt at the stake, becoming one of the three Oxford Martyrs of Anglicanism.-Life:Latimer was born into a...
, who was a regular preacher until he left Cambridge in 1531. These events have led to St Edward's being referred to as the "Cradle of the Reformation".
Recent history
The buildings of central Cambridge have led to St Edward's becoming somewhat hidden away from view in its location on the north side of the Guildhall. It is surrounded on three sides by its namesake pedestrian alleyway whose 'Y-shaped' form has remained unchanged since at least the sixteenth century, and only possesses a tiny churchyard. It holds Grade II* listed status.During the 1930s, St Edward's served as the Toc H
Toc H
Toc H is an international Christian movement. The name is an abbreviation for Talbot House, 'Toc' signifying the letter T in the signals spelling alphabet used by the British Army in World War I. A soldiers' rest and recreation centre named Talbot House was founded in December 1915 at Poperinghe,...
church for the east of England, and became popular with students, who referred to it as "Teddy's".
The present East window was designed by George Gilbert Scott
George Gilbert Scott
Sir George Gilbert Scott was an English architect of the Victorian Age, chiefly associated with the design, building and renovation of churches, cathedrals and workhouses...
and was added during the restorations of 1858–60. The theologian F. D. Maurice
Frederick Maurice
John Frederick Denison Maurice, often known as F. D. Maurice , was an English theologian and Christian Socialist.-Biography:...
was chaplain at St Edward's from 1870–2.
The church holds a weekly Gothic Eucharist.
The present chaplain is Fraser Watts.