University Church of St Mary

A return visit for me to this historical church. There has been some changes since my last visit, but it still holds its magic. The magic is in the walls, wood, ceilings and the very essence of the church, Cranmer, Latimer and Ridley… all connected. As with the rest of Oxford, the church has become very commercial, and it difficult to find «spots» for «quiet moments»!!!

Climb the tower. Do it.
You’re in Oxford, you should do it. It’s four pounds and you get to climb the narrowest stairs made of everything from stone to wood to oh my god whatever it’s made of, it’s really old, please don’t collapse under me.
It is always WAY too narrow for two people to go at the same time, hell it’s not even enough for one person really, so you’re constantly playing, «Can I squeeze against the wall enough to let this person past.» The answer is, yes, but barely.
But my god, the view from the top. Phenomenal. You get this amazing view of Oxford and all the beautiful buildings. There isn’t anything like it.
And then one last trick, the walkway doesn’t go all the way around the tower, so you have to double back and once again squeeze against people. Happy squeezing!

Lovely little tea shop in the perfect location part of ancient Oxford…
We enjoyed tea and scones, which I must say was well worth it! The staff was also very friendly and helpful. I will again stop here when visiting again!

It’s pretty old, the University Church of Saint Mary the Virgin, on High Street, Oxford and comes with some serious cultural history.
The earliest part is the Tower (1280) with its ornate spire (1315 – 25), though there has probably been a church on the site since Anglo-​Saxon times. It stands right in the middle of the old walled city and the university grew up around it.
Today it is the university’s official place of worship and was recently surveyed as the most visited parish church in England with over 300,000 people each year.
There are plenty of things to look out for inside, such as the Chancellor’s and Proctor’s throne-​like seats in the Nave, the organ, the great west window and Cranmer’s Pillar, where the martyr Thomas Cranmer stood trial and refused to deny his Protestant beliefs.
Along with 2 other Anglican bishops, Hugh Latimer and Nicholas Ridley, Cranmer was burnt at the stake in Broad Street, Oxford, just outside Balliol College with the place marked by a cross in the road — rough stuff during the reign of Bloody Mary (1554 – 55).
Moving on up, climb St Mary’s Tower, 127 steps to the viewing point where you can take in the spendour of Oxford’s spires, chimneys, rooves, walls and gardens from a vantage point of over 100 feet skyward — don’t do this unless you have a head for heights, particularly as the ledge up there feels a bit, well, like a ledge.
The steps to it are narrow, especially the last 60 that follow a twisting corkscrew route, very cosy when passing those going in the other direction — just hope to encounter slim Jims and not burley Bills. Fantastic views at the top though, probably the best in Oxford — well worth the effort and small surcharge payable in the gift shop below — and it’s all in a good cause.

Alongside the Carfax Tower, this is one of the best places to get a view of Oxford. It’s well worth it, especially on a clear day when, in a good light, you can get enough photos to make your own calendar of Oxford. Even if you don’t go up the steps, the church is well worth taking the time to look at, with its impressive entrance and domineering tower.
If you do decide to climb, it’s £3 for adults and £2.50 for children under 16. A family ticket is £6 (2 adults, 2 children). It’s worth making sure everyone wants to go all the way up before buying tickets, as you can pass quite a lot of out of breath adults and children having tantrums on the staircase! That said, most kids love racing up the stairs, and it’s really not that far.
There’s a gift shop with a guide book describing the views (well worth buying before the climb). It’s also got CDs of the University Choir and church-​related gifts, as well as the usual touristy postcards and gifts.

I love old churches and the often random history they bring, maybe it’s because I’m not Christian or maybe it’s because I love steeple climbing spiral staircases erected in medieval times when people were generally a foot shorter/​thinner. This is the certainly the case at St. Mary the Virgin as romping tourists squeeze past the 124 steps to make it to the top, enjoying fine uninterrupted views in all directions across Oxford and the surrounding countryside. Be warned, it’s not great for the claustrophobic or pie-​lovin’ amongst you.
The church is billed as a lively parish in the liberal catholic tradition of the Church of England, but made up of people of many different backgrounds and opinions. We aim to be a place of spiritual, intellectual and emotional refreshment in the city centre. We seek to give people the chance to learn and grow in their faith through challenging sermons and a variety of education courses. Now that’s my kind of vibe, see you at Sunday Mass!

Von außen sicherlich eine der prachtvollsten Kirchen in Oxford (wenn auch englandweit höchstens der Turm und das barocke Südportal wirklich sehenswert sind), aber der wahre Grund, sich als Oxfordbesucher der Kirche, in einer Mischung aus decorative und perpendicular Style (in etwa Hoch– und Spätgotik entsprechend) zuzuwenden ist die grandiose Aussicht vom Kirchturm. Durch die eher niedrige Höhe der Aussichtsplattform und des sichtfreien, kompletten Umgangs kann das ganze historische Zentrum Oxfords und insbesondere natürlich die zahlreichen umliegenden Colleges in ihrer ganzheitlichen Pracht bewundert werden. Für 3 Pfund ein Muß, auch wenn der Auf– und Abstieg dank der Enge an gut besuchten Tagen ziemlich lange und beschwerlich werden kann.

The University Church is ideally located on one side of Radcliffe Square, adjacent to the High St. A tourist attraction in it’s own right, it also has a tower which is definitely worth climbing. From here you have unrivalled views of the colleges and the Radcliffe Camera. Once you have got back down to the bottom, go to the Vault café next to the church for something to cool you down!

Most visitors come to the church to climb the tower. It’s well worth it for the spectacular views. The stairs are quite narrow and it can be tricky if two groups meet along the way!
Great postcard views from the top.

This church is fairly small by sight seeing standards in Oxford, but it is just as impressive as the big looming cathedrals. It is very old and is said to be one of the OLDEST university churches in the WORLD! Although old, it is very good to look at and if you are into history and architecture you will really enjoy it.
The church has a tower which is accessible up lots of steps. These steps are small and their staircase is tight. You will need to be fully mobile, fit and not too large to attempt them. There is a rope to hang on to but it is quite daunting when people are coming in the opposite direction to you!
At the top of the tower are some great views over oxford so it is very worth the scary trip up the steps.
The church includes an eatery where you can have a ”lunch” for about a tenner this is basically cake and a cuppa so you might want to consider going elsewhere and eating properly for the same price!
This attraction is popular so you will often find you have to que, especially on a hot summers day. I would recommend you fo early in the morning.

This is a great attraction — for a couple of pounds you can climb the tower and get the best views of Oxford. Maybe take up a map so you can figure out what’s what!
The stairs are very steep in places so not great for people who aren’t full mobile or small children. Also has some narrow stairways so not good for anyone who’s claustrophobic.
Head up on a slighty overcast day so that you can see far without squinting. Remember to do this when you’ve got some time, as It takes some time to get up there and just as much time to get down!