Historic churches · East of England
St Bene't's Church
In or near Cambridge.
St Bene't's Church — church in Cambridge, UK.
Wikimedia Commons contributors — see linked file page for photographer and licence licence
Plan your visit
- Typical visit
- 30 min–1 h
- Nearest railway station
- Cambridge · 1.7 km
- Free entry
- Wheelchair accessible
Getting there & planning your visit
St Bene't's Church is located in Cambridge, with the nearest railway station being Cambridge, approximately 1.7 km away. Entry to the church is free, and it is wheelchair accessible.
About
St Bene't's Church is a historic church in the United Kingdom. Records date its origin to 1001. Heritage designation: Grade I listed building. Affiliated with Anglicanism. Named after Benedict of Nursia. Wikidata describes it as: "church in Cambridge, UK". Coordinates: 52.2037°, 0.1183°.
Photo gallery
See it from the streetimagery from 2021
Imagery © Mapillary contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0
Heritage listing
St Bene't's Church is a Church of England parish church in central Cambridge, England. Parts of the church, most notably the tower, are Anglo-Saxon, and it is the oldest church in Cambridgeshire as well as the oldest building in Cambridge. The church is dedicated to Saint Benedict of Nursia, the founder of the Benedictine order of monasticism. Bene't is an attempt to reconcile the Anglo-Norman name Benet with the Latin (and modern English) form of the saint's name Benedict. Latin documents from the 13th and 14th century refer to "ecclesie sancti Benedicti" while a contract (in English) of 6 June 1452 for a new roof referred to the "cherche of seynt Bennettys". Lyne's map of Cambridge of 1574 shows "Benett Ch" while Loggan's map of 1688 shows "St Bennetts Church".
From the Historic England List Entry under OGL v3.
Official information
St Bene't's Church is a historic Christian community in Cambridge, established in 1020. Visitors can participate in daily services and explore the church's rich history while finding a place for prayer and reflection.
From the Wikipedia article
St Bene't's Church is a Church of England parish church in central Cambridge, England. Parts of the church, most notably the tower, are Anglo-Saxon, and it is the oldest church in Cambridgeshire as well as the oldest building in Cambridge. The church is dedicated to Saint Benedict of Nursia, the founder of the Benedictine order of monasticism. Bene't is an attempt to reconcile the Anglo-Norman name Benet with the Latin (and modern English) form of the saint's name Benedict. Latin documents from the 13th and 14th century refer to "ecclesie sancti Benedicti" while a contract (in English) of 6 June 1452 for a new roof referred to the "cherche of seynt Bennettys". Lyne's map of Cambridge of 1574 shows "Benett Ch" while Loggan's map of 1688 shows "St Bennetts Church". In the 19th century the church was variously referred to as being of "St Benedict", "St Benet" or "St Bene't". Modern usage is either "St Benet" or "St Bene't".
Excerpt from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0. See the source article linked in Sources below.
Background
History
St Bene't's Anglo-Saxon tower was "most probably" built between AD 1000–1050, although the present bell-openings were added in 1586. The tower has characteristically Anglo-Saxon long-and-short quoins. In the 13th century the chancel was altered, hence the deeply splayed Early English Gothic lancet windows on the south side (one of which is now blocked). The clerestory and roof of the nave are late Perpendicular Gothic and date from 1452. St Bene't's has one monumental brass: a small kneeling figure of Richard de Billingford, who died in 1432 and had been Master of Corpus Christi College from 1398 to 1432. The church is a Grade I listed building.
Sourced from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Coordinates
- 52.2037, 0.1183
- County
- Cambridgeshire
- District
- Cambridge
- Parish
- Cambridge, unparished area
- Postcode
- CB2 3QA
- Parliamentary constituency
- Cambridge
- Established
- 1001
- Nearest railway station
- Cambridge — 1.7 km
- Official site
- www.stbenetschurch.org
Sources
- wikidata: Q128404 (CC0)
- wikipedia: St Bene't's Church (CC BY-SA 4.0)
- commons: St Benets exterior.jpg (CC BY-SA 4.0)
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Frequently asked questions
- Where is St Bene't's Church?
- St Bene't's Church is in Cambridgeshire, London, United Kingdom (postcode CB2 3QA), in the parish of Cambridge, unparished area.
- What is St Bene't's Church?
- St Bene't's Church — church in Cambridge, UK.
- How do I get to St Bene't's Church?
- The nearest railway station is Cambridge, about 1.7 km away. Drivers can use postcode CB2 3QA.
- When was St Bene't's Church built?
- Built or established in 1001.
- Is St Bene't's Church a listed building?
- St Bene't's Church is officially recognised as Grade I listed building listed.
- Is St Bene't's Church free to visit?
- Yes, St Bene't's Church is free to enter.
- How do I get to St Bene't's Church?
- The nearest railway station is Cambridge, about 1.7 km away. Drivers can navigate to postcode CB2 3QA.