Great St Mary's — Attraction in Cambridge

Beautiful church, moving sermon from preacher, great organist, but I did not particularly appreciate the way I was treated by some members of the staff during a Sunday church service some weeks ago. I wished to attend the church service that day as I was raised in the Episcopal Church in the states and was eager to experience the same welcoming atmosphere and brotherhood in Christ, however as I stood in line that day and entered slowly, quietly, and respectfully and moved towards the nearest pew, I was stopped by a member of staff (an older man) who stared me down and stood in my way. I did not know what I had done wrong so I asked him quietly if I was allowed to take a seat and join the service, and was not given a response. Just as the situation was becoming quite awkward he then motioned to another member of staff (a lady) to take his place to physically block me from entering further. I noticed that they were letting other people through to attend the service, but not me, and I'll admit I grew frustrated and left. Perhaps I had entered through the wrong door? In any case, I just don't believe it's right to treat people this way in church regardless of whether or not they're newcomers to the congregation.

If not for that unpleasant interaction I think I would have...

I was drawn into the Great St. Mary’s by its beautiful bells filling the streets with a call to come. To come and hear the Good News.

The Eucharist on Palm Sunday was a moving event where we walked through Cambridge singing and praising Jesus publicly - inviting the world into our hearts to see the joy Jesus brings to us today - over 2,000 years after He walked the earth in the flesh.

There were also those who remained in the church and were ministered to there - a nice touch.

I sat beside two kind English women eager to welcome me to Cambridge and wish me well. #kindnessmatters

The singers delivered a beautiful performance that lifted the congregation and filled us up to face the day with a song in our hearts after having praised Jesus with our tongues.

I pray the world will know Jesus for themselves. The Light of the World is there for every single one of us.

Luke 11:9-10 (NIV):

So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door...

We visited this wonderful church by chance when we were in Cambridge and were very pleased with the new impressions. There was organ music playing inside, the interior decoration, sculptures, icons and stained glass were pleasing to the eye. We learned a little about its history, and although it is very long, I will try to say a few words. The first mention of the church is a record of King John introducing Thomas de Chimele to the parish priest in 1205. The foundations of the church may date back to 1010, but the church was largely destroyed by fire on July 9, 1290, and then rebuilt. At the time, this fire was attributed to the Jewish population of the city, as a result of which the synagogue was closed. The church survived the religious wars and was even used for a time as a place for debates and meetings of Cambridge University, until 1730, when the University Senate was specially built for this purpose nearby. Thanks to its bells, it has the oldest (1724) bellringing...