Visit Great St Mary's
A Community in Pursuit of Truth
Great St Mary’s is open daily except Mondays from 12 noon to 4pm.
The church is free to enter, and we welcome visitors from around the world. Why not purchase a ticket to climb the tower, and experience the best view in Cambridge?
You are also welcome to come to the church for quiet prayer, and to join us for services on Sundays at 8am (BCP Communion) and 10.30am (alternating weekly between Eucharist & mattins). We also offer online worship throughout the week on Facebook, Twitter Periscope, and YouTube,
Visiting
Great St Mary’s is open daily except Mondays, from 11am to 5pm.
Those coming to pray are invited to use the south doors, opposite Ryder & Aimes. If you would like to visit the Tower, please use the west doors, opposite the Old Schools.
The UK government requires wearing of a face covering (mask) when inside a church or any public place of worship. Full details may be found at
Safety
The protection of our visitors, staff, and volunteers is our paramount concern. To uphold all the safety measures required to enable reopening, some significant changes have been introduced, which you can read about below.
We ask anyone who has symptoms associated with Covid-19 or has been around someone who has symptoms associated with Covid-19 not to visit the church until fully recovered and to have observed the appropriate government-mandeted isolation period.
What to Expect
CURRENT OPENING TIMES
We are open daily except Mondays, 11am – 5pm.
ENTRY AND EXITd
Entry and exit from the church will be limited. Those coming to pray are asked to enter via the South doors on St Mary’s Passage (opposite Ryder & Amies and The Senate Bar). Those coming to climb the tower are asked to use the West doors.
MASKS
The UK government requires wearing of a face covering (mask) when inside a church or any public place of worship. Full details may be found at d
WELCOME STEWARDS
There will be a steward to welcome you upon arrival and provide you with guidance on your visit to Great St Mary’s. Stewards will also be located at key points around the church. All will be observing strict social distancing and may be wearing facemasks.
VISITING NUMBERS
In order to ensure safe distancing is observed only a few people will be allowed in the church at any one time, and we will not be able to accommodate groups.
ONE-WAY SYSTEM
There will be a marked one-way system around the church. Please be advised that only the nave area will be open – no access to any other area of the church is currently permitted.
SOCIAL DISTANCING
Only some pews will be open, and we ask that you keep a space of 2m apart from other visitors when moving around the church at all times.
CLERGY
A member of the clergy will be often available on site during opening hours. Should you wish to speak to the clergy member, please let one of the stewards know and they will provide further instruction.
TOILETS
We apologise but due to current advice around the potential risk of transmission of Covid-19, the church toilets will be closed for safety reasons and will not be accessible.
CLEANING
The church will be undertaking a strict cleaning regime.
LEAFLETS AND INFORMATION
Please note that all literature has currently been moved from the church but relevant information will be available on the notice boards located near the entrance.
DONATIONS
The economic impact of this crisis will be long-lasting for everyone including Great St Mary's. We are doing everything we can to open the church as safely as possible and continue to support our community. We are a self-funded organisation and any donations will be gratefully received. We would recommend that you use the contactless donation station near the entrance.
Click here to make an online donation today.
STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS
Our staff and volunteer welfare are extremely important to us and we are working to detailed policies and guidelines across the church floor and offices to ensure safety for social distance and providing extra support. Staff are working from home where possible and working patterns have been adjusted to ensure the team remains as protected as possible.
Stay up to Date
You will always find the latest updates and news on the church website and social media channels. You can also sign-up to receive our weekly eMag by email at this link.
For those of you planning to visit us, thank you in advance for helping us to uphold the measures in place and we look forward to once again welcoming you. God be with you and enjoy this sacred space.
Supporting Great St Mary's
Our team is working hard to reopen for prayer and contemplation and to provide pastoral, spiritual and practical support to our communities.We are a self-funded organisation and do not receive government funding. Great St Mary's relies on public donations to continue our life and work. To shield itself as much as possible from the negative financial impact of the crisis, the church team is finding solutions to help protect it in the long-term, such as working with various existing and emergency grant-making bodies. We would be grateful for any donation either during your visit or online via our donation page. Thank you.