Great St. Mary's Church

I must begin this blog with a confession.  I have written back to virtually every comment posted on the blog, but I fear that many of you have never received my replies.  I'm not sure where in cyber space they are, but, if you know, please enlighten the rest of us, and someone please help me.  I don't know how to respond to your comments so that you actually receive them. Do I need to post a general comment to the blog or is there another way...any ideas out there?  Highest bidder wins. :)

OK, back to business...Our lives keep intersecting with this historical church, Great St. Mary's.  It has dominated the Cambridge marketplace for over 800 years.  Not only is it the parish church for the centre of Cambridge, but also, since it has ties with the University, is known as the University Church.  Being already on this site in the early 13th century, it was inevitable that the University emerging nearby should choose the church for its ceremonies and official meetings.  Although no longer used for these purposes, it continues to be used today for many others. 

There are many stories to tell about this church...the first one involves, how shall I say, "church climbers".  (If anyone knows the actual name for this activity, do tell.)  We have seen this on several occasions, where college-age guys jump from one part of a building to another without touching the ground.  Apparently, Great St. Mary's is a hot spot for this unusual sporting event.  Here's the idea:  Victoria is stationed at the first spot, and these guys, clad in Spiderman-type shoes, JUMP from Tori's column to Caleb's (yes, it IS as far as it looks).  Then they jump from Caleb's to Daniel's, then from Daniel's to the ledge ON THE CHURCH ITSELF, then hold onto the concrete designs on the front of the church, going OVER the door to the other side, which has 3 mirrored "posts" (exactly like where the 3 kids are , but on the other side) to complete the loop.  The whole thing probably takes around 40 seconds...a very entertaining 40 seconds, I might add. :)  We just stand there "gob-smacked" watching them.  As an interesting aside, one day while riding bus #7 out of town, we saw what appeared to be Saturday morning church-climbing practice--young guys unmistakably practicing  jumps on the side of a building...no ropes...no gear...no thanks...

Anyway, Great St. Mary's has a church tower with 123 spiralling steep steps to the top.  This photo doesn't do it justice, really, but perhaps you can get the idea.  Unlike St. John's tower, which we climbed earlier, this one was prepared for tourists--well lit with railings at the top.  The children preferred St. John's. :)

 

King's College Chapel, Cambridge's most recognized landmark, in background.  On the way back down, we happened to be passing the bellringers room at exactly the same time a pair of gentlemen were leaving, and to make room for them, we had to go INTO the bellringers room.  The children were delighted!  This room is usually under lock and key, and no one unofficial is allowed in.  Though they did not actually get to ring the bells (they can be heard all over Cambridge when they ring), they did get to put their hands where the ringers put theirs (note the soft, red material on the ropes) so they won't get rope burn. (Bellringers at Great St. Mary's date from 1724--the oldest bellringing team in England. ) The grandfatherly porter at the bottom of the staircase could not BELIEVE the children's good fortune.  

Ever wonder what the pulleys look like that pull the ropes that ring the bells?  Wonder no longer...

The nave of Great St. Mary's Church.  It's amazing to me to see these centuries old churches still being used today. Note the balconies along either side.  Brad sang in the Messiah here last weekend. 

  He's the handsome one on the front row.

 The conductor was some world-renowned guy.  Must have been, as he played the harpsicord AS HE WAS CONDUCTING THE MESSIAH.  Is this humanly possible? 

Harpsicord = black keys + white "black notes" .  Great marketing ploy. :)