Holy Sepulchre Cambridge

Origin

11th century Crusaders to the Holy Land would have seen the Holy Sepulchre, located near the centre of Jerusalem. It was a round church supported on eighteen columns or piers with an ambulatory around the perimeter on the west of the church, and the well attested site of Christ's tomb at the centre. There would have been four apses at each of the cardinal points, and on the east side there would have been a facade, so that the east apse was accessible directly from the rotunda.

Design

The Holy Sepulchre in Cambridge, built around 1130, may be inspired by the original church in Jerusalem.

The entrance of the church is on the west, through a round-arched doorway. The rotunda is supported by eight large round piers, and the ambulatory is vaulted with a gallery above. The piers support Norman round arches and there is Norman dog-tooth or zig-zag decoration throughout.

Holy Sepulchre Cambridge in 1809

Alterations

In the 15th century, the central tower was altered, but by the 19th century the church was in disrepair and subsequently was restored to be in keeping with the original Norman design.

References

• Christian Heritage, Round Church