The University Church and Old Library
The foundation of the church itself is too early to have records, but in 1320 Bishop Cobham of Worcester donated money to build the Old Congregation House. This was the first building dedicated to the use of the nascent University, with his collection of chained books upstairs in the Old Library and administration below. So as well as being the University’s official place of worship, St Mary’s was used for lectures, examinations, academic disputations, divinity school, library, court house and treasury.
With the growth of the University and the advent of the printing press in the mid-15th Century, St Mary’s became too small to house all these activities. They were gradually moved to new buildings: Duke Humphrey’s Library (part of the Bodleian), the Divinity School and the Sheldonian Theatre. But the importance of the church did not diminish.
Today the celebrated Gothic spire of St Mary’s forms an iconic image of Oxford at the very centre of the historic walled city. Sharing Radcliffe Square with the classical Camera, the church is an integral part of an architectural ensemble of international significance, described by Pevsner as ‘unique in the world’. Essential development work will enable St Mary’s to continue this heritage, and to serve a diverse congregation and worldwide community as an important centre of religion, learning, music and history.