University Church of St Mary the Virgin

The tower and the view

The tower dates from around 1280, with its spire and pinnacles added in the early 14th century, and is often held up as Oxford's finest example of Decorated Gothic. The climb is narrow and steep with limited room at the top, but the reward is a close view down onto the Radcliffe Camera, the Bodleian and the college roofs. Expect a small charge.

Centuries of religious drama

In the 1550s the Oxford Martyrs were tried here, and it was from this church that Archbishop Thomas Cranmer famously retracted his recantation. Later, John Keble's sermon of 14 July 1833 is regarded as the start of the Oxford Movement, and John Henry Newman preached here as vicar from 1828 to 1843. Look for the statues of saints in the tower's pinnacles too; the ones on the spire were replaced in 1894.

Details to spot

On the High Street side, the Virgin Porch of 1637 has a statue of the Virgin and Child above the door, with marks traditionally attributed to Cromwellian soldiers' bullets. Pair a visit with Radcliffe Square, the Bodleian Library and a coffee at Vaults & Garden next door.

Highlights

• Tower from around 1280 with views over Radcliffe Square
• Site of the trial of the Oxford Martyrs
• Where the Oxford Movement began in 1833
• Baroque Virgin Porch of 1637

Good to know

• Tower stairs are narrow and steep with little space at the top
• There is a charge to climb the tower
• An active church, so services may affect access

Frequently asked questions