Holy Sepulchre is one of four round churches in use in England. Normally associated with Orders founded to safeguard pilgrim routes and destinations in the Holy Land, this site was granted to the 'fraternity of the Holy Sepulchre' in the early 12th century, but little is known about this particular order.
The church comprises the small round nave, with an ambulatory and an aisled chancel. The structure has gone through significant changes over its lifetime: the original chancel - probably a short apse - was replaced by a longer chancel with north aisle in the 15th century. At the same time, the Norman Romanesque windows were replaced with larger Gothic windows, and a drum-shaped bell tower was added above the nave.
The entire church was heavily restored in 1841 by Anthony Salvin (1799-1881), who reduced the upper storey of the bell tower and restored it to something closer to the likely original, as well as reinserting round-headed windows. In the chancel, a new south aisle was added, and the north aisle and east walls - which were in poor condition - were rebuilt. As a result, the church overall now contains as much 19th Century fabric as mediaeval.
Nevertheless, the round nave is suitably gloomy and atmospheric: huge drum piers support a gallery with twin-light openings, with eight ribs supporting the dome, each ending in carved corbels. The ambulatory is also vaulted. The chancel is - as seems common in Cambridge - thoroughly whitewashed.
In 1994 the congregation, having outgrown the church, moved to St Andrew the Great, and Holy Sepulchre became a visitor centre explaining Christian Heritage and how it has shaped Cambridge and Western culture. It is open daily (paid entrance), and hosts periodic talks and other events.
The Round Church, Bridge Street, Cambridge, CB2 1UB
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