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All Saints' Church, Cambridge facts for kids

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All Saints', Jesus Lane
All Saints Church, Jesus Lane, Cambridge from the SE.jpg
All Saints' Church from the south east
General information
Architectural style Gothic Revival
Location Jesus Lane
Town or city Cambridge, England
Country United Kingdom
Coordinates 52°12′30″N 0°07′24″E / 52.208277°N 0.123231°E / 52.208277; 0.123231
Construction started 1863
Completed 1870
Height 175 feet (53 m) (spire)
Design and construction
Architect G. F. Bodley

All Saints' is a church on Jesus Lane in central Cambridge, England, which was built by the architect George Frederick Bodley. The church was constructed in stages between 1863 and 1870 and is a notable example of English Gothic Revival style. It was designated Grade I listed building status in 1950. It was vested in the Churches Conservation Trust in 1981. Opening times vary and visitors should contact the Churches Conservation Trust to confirm current arrangements.

History

A mediæval church, All Saints in the Jewry, stood in St John's Street, Cambridge. Its history dates back to the 11th century and by the 13th century was in the patronage of St Radegund's Nunnery, later re-established as Jesus College. The church was rebuilt several times but by the nineteenth century was deemed too small for the growing congregation. It was finally demolished in 1865 to be replaced by a new building in Jesus Lane, at its junction with Manor Road. The churchyard of the original church is now an open space known as All Saints' Garden and contains a memorial cross designed by Basil Champneys in 1882.

Although it was initially hoped that George Gilbert Scott would design the new church. George Frederick Bodley who had been Scott's talented pupil, was chosen. The foundation stone was laid on 27 May 1863 and was consecrated on 30 November 1864. Between 1869 and 1871 the present tower and spire were added, with St Oswald's Church, Ashbourne, Derbyshire, used as the model.

The church fell out of use as a place of worship in 1973 and lay redundant for several years. A plan to demolish part of the building was abandoned in 1981. Today the church is used by the neighbouring theological college, Westcott House, for worship and for secular events, such as art exhibitions. It is open to the public daily.

Architecture

The church's spire is a prominent Cambridge landmark. At around 175 feet (53 m) in height it was, at its construction, the tallest building in the city; it remains the city's third tallest building, after the chimney of Addenbrooke's Hospital and Our Lady and the English Martyrs Church.

The church is noted for its strikingly decorated interior, much of it designed by Bodley. Fittings designed by Bodley include the alabaster font, the pulpit, and the oak aisle screen.

The painted wall and ceiling decorations, by the Leach Studio, Morris & Co. and others, are covered in stencilled patterns and repeated use of religious symbolism such as the Sacred Monogram and the Fleur-de-lis. Around the upper walls are texts from the Book of Revelation (Revelation 7:9) and from the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:3-12). Part of the Beatitudes have been lost due to water damage to the plaster.

The stained-glass east window was designed by Edward Burne-Jones and executed by Morris & Co. The twenty figures were individually designed by Burne-Jones, Ford Madox Brown and William Morris. In the north aisle are three windows by Charles Eamer Kempe and Douglas Strachan.

  • All Saints' Church Cambridge interior

    The ornate church interior

  • All Saints' Church, pulpit - geograph.org.uk - 891605

    The timber pulpit (1864) by Bodley, painted by Wyndham Hope Hughes in 1874

  • All Saints' Church, chancel arch - geograph.org.uk - 891632

    The chancel arch

  • Bishop Brooke Foss Westcott

    Bishop Brooke Foss Westcott depicted in the stained glass

  • All Saints' Church, Cambridge

    View of the 175 feet (53 m) spire

Images for kids

  • All Saints in the Jewry, Cambridge

    All Saints in the Jewry in 1841 opposite Trinity's chapel (far left) and St John's College gatehouse

  • Cross, All Saints Garden, Cambridge, England - IMG 0669

    The cross in All Saints Garden

  • All Saints' Church, Jesus Lane from the east

    All Saints' Church from the eastern end of Jesus Lane

  • All Saints Church, Jesus Lane, Cambridge - Nave & South Aisle

    Nave, arcade and south aisle

  • All Saints' Church, Jesus Lane - Chancel arch & rood screen

    Chancel arch with painting of "Christ in Majesty" by Wyndham Hope Hughes

  • All Saints' Church, Jesus Lane, Cambridge - South aisle wall decorations

    Bodley's designs in the SE corner of the south aisle

  • All Saints' Church, Jesus Lane, Cambridge - Altar

    The altar

  • All Saints' Church, Jesus Lane, Cambridge - South aisle

    South aisle, looking east

  • All Saints' Church, Cambridge - Judas Maccabeus stained glass

    Judas Maccabeus by Edward Burne-Jones from the east window by Morris, Marshall, Faulkner & Co.

  • All Saints' Church, Jesus Lane, Cambridge - 'Womanhood' window by Douglas Strachan

    The 'Womanhood' window by Douglas Strachan in the NW nave

  • George Frederick Bodley00

    George Bodley, architect of All Saints'

  • All Saints' Church, Jesus Lane - Tower canopy & chancel wall decorations

    Chancel canopy, wall decorations & chandelier

  • All Saints' Church, Jesus Lane from Belmont Place

    All Saints' with the rear of the neighbouring Jesus Lane terraces

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