St Edward King and Martyr church stands on Peas Hill in the centre of historic Cambridge, and has been present in this spot since the 13th century. The church is named after Edward the Martyr, King of England in the 10th century and half-brother of his successor, Ethelred the Unready. An Anglican church, St Edward King and Martyr has played a major role in the religious history of England. It is believed to be the site of the first sermon denouncing Catholicism in the UK, and is nicknamed the ‘Cradle of the Reformation’. The English Reformation took place in the early 16th century, and saw English churches denounce the Pope and set up the Anglican church.

The present church building was completed in 1400, and has been restored and extended in the intervening centuries. The present east window was added during Victorian era restoration, and was designed by Sir Gilbert Scott. The church holds three services on Sunday, at 8am, 11am and 5pm. There are also talks and contemporary services held on Tuesday and Wednesday evening, catering for the city’s large student population. St. Edward’s, as it is known locally, prides itself on being a meditative place of worship, and its 5pm Sunday service is based around the Iona and Taize principles of meditative worship.

St. Bene’t’s Church stands on its namesake street, close to King’s and Corpus Christi colleges, and The Backs, an area of parkland around the River Cam to the west. It may not be the most well known of Cambridge’s many historic building, but it is in fact the oldest – the church has stood on this spot since at least 1050 AD. The church, originally known as St. Benedict’s, is known for its distinctive Anglo-Saxon square tower, whilst the rest of the building was rebuilt in the Victorian era. Michael Ramsey, a former Archbishop of Canterbury, was vicar at St. Bene’t’s until 1938.

An evangelical Anglican church, St. Bene’t’s has always played a key role within the city’s famous university community. The church bells, present in the tower from the 13th century, were used to call students to lectures and exams throughout the Middle Ages. St. Bene’t’s retains close links with nearby Corpus Christi College, the church provides a chaplain for the college to this day. The church holds Holy Communion at 8am on Sundays, with a Eucharist service following afterwards. There is also a regular discussion group at the church, as well as a ‘bring and share’ supper evening each month.

King’s College Chapel has stood in Cambridge since 1515, when Henry VIII was King of England. As its name suggests, the chapel was built to provide a place of worship for residents of nearby King’s College, at the western end of the city’s sprawling university campus. The chapel is considered to be one of the city’s finest examples of late Gothic English architecture. The interior of the chapel building is notable for its ornate fan vault ceiling, as well as elements of Renaissance era design. Nikolaus Pevsner, a leading expert on ecclesiastical architecture, stated that King’s College Chapel contains the UK’s finest surviving examples of Italian decoration. The chapel is one of Cambridge’s most distinctive buildings, and is featured on the city council logo.

The chapel is known for its exquisite original stained glass windows, which date from the 16th century. Still an active place of worship, King’s College Chapel is also used for college events and concerts, including the college music society’s May Week Concert, where the audience are treated to free champagne and strawberries on the church lawn. The chapel has a rich musical history, on account of its exceptional acoustics, and has a world famous men’s choir. The choir sing at choral services each day during term times, starting at 5.30pm Monday to Saturday, with services at 10.30am and 3.30pm on Sunday.

The Church of St. Mary the Great is located on King’s Parade, in the centre of Cambridge. A Church of England place of worship, it is the official church of the University of Cambridge. As a result, the church’s location is integral to university legislation – traditionally, undergraduates must live within 3 miles of St. Mary’s to study at the university. The church is known as St. Mary the Great to distinguish it from St. Mary’s the Less, a smaller unrelated church on Trumpington Street. St. Mary the Great also houses the University Organ, and University Clock. The clock chimes, known as the Cambridge Chimes, are also used by Big Ben, the clock tower of the Houses of Parliament in London.

The current church building has stood on King’s Parade since 1608, although the church has existed here in some form since at least 1205. Designed in the Late Perpendicular style, St. Mary the Great was a centre for debates and sermons during the English Reformation, which began in Cambridge. The church is open through the week to visitors, and is free to visit. Guided tours for groups can be arranged, at a cost of £2 per adult and £1 per child. The bell tower offers one of the finest views across the city, and is open from 10am to 4.30pm Monday to Saturday, and 12.30pm to 4.00pm on Sundays. The tower closes one hour earlier in the winter months. Admission is £3.50 for adults, with concessions available.

The Church of the Holy Sepulchre is found on Bridge Street in Cambridge city centre. One of the city’s oldest buildings, it has stood on this spot since 1130. Known locally as The Round Church, it was designed in tribute to the rotunda at the Holy Sepulchre church in Jerusalem. The church has been extended and restored several times from its original structure, when it served as a chapel for wayfarers along Bridge Street, a former Roman Road which led out of the city. The glass in the east window was destroyed by a German bomb in World War II and subsequently replaced.

In 1994, the small Grade I listed church was ruled unsuitable to house its growing congregation, and is no longer used as a place of worship. Christian Heritage have reopened the church as a museum, featuring an exhibition on the history and impact of Christianity in England. The redundant church also houses a library of theological texts, and offers a range of courses and lectures on the Christian faith. The museum also offers guided tours of places of worship and other significant buildings in the city. These start from the Round Church on Sundays at 2.30pm and Wednesdays at 11.00am.

All Saints church is located on the appropriately named Jesus Lane, close to Jesus College, north of the Cambridge University campus. The church was built in 1865, replacing the medieval All Saints church on St. John’s Street. All Saints has historical links with the nearby college throughout its history, dating from the college’s origins as a convent in the Middle Ages. The new church was established opposite Jesus College, and was designed by G. F. Bodley, a pupil of renowned architect Sir Gilbert Scott. All Saints church was consecrated in 1864, with the present tower and spire added in the following decade.

A notable example of the Gothic Revival style of ecclesiastical architecture, the church is Grade II listed. The distinctive spire makes All Saints the third tallest building in Cambridge, and can be seen across the city. The church’s ornate interior is a fine example of the late 18th century Arts & Crafts Movement. The movement saw a return to the colourful decorative style of medieval and romantic cultures in art and architecture. It can be viewed on a daily basis as the church is consistently open to visitors. Still an active place of worship, the church holds services each Sunday.

Wesley Methodist Church sits in the heart of the university. The services are directed to a wide congregation, including people of all ages and ethnic backgrounds. Built in 1913, the church features Gothic style architecture and blends nicely with the university buildings.

Holy Trinity Church is situated on the corner of Market Street and Sidney Street, in the shopping district of Cambridge city centre. The church building dates back over eight hundred years, and was built to replace a previous church, which was destroyed by fire in 1174. Only the western wall remains of the original structure; the church was developed heavily in the English Reformation, and is an example of the Gothic Perpendicular style.

The church played a key role in the city’s spiritual revival in Georgian England. The preacher at this time, Charles Simeon, increased the church’s popularity with an evangelical style that was at odds with the Anglican customs of the age. Simeon also helped to set up the Church Missionary Society, beginning the English church tradition of sending religious missions to troubled countries overseas.

Still a broadly evangelical church in the image of its former preacher, Holy Trinity Church holds a morning communion each Sunday at 9.30am. A children’s church service runs alongside the main service each Sunday morning. There is also an evening service on Sundays at 6.30pm. The church is a centre of student life within Cambridge, and holds an additional 11.30am Sunday service during term times, followed by a students’ social lunch.