[Illustration: 0046]
|ALTHOUGH St. Mary's, being a parish Church, cannot be numbered among
the buildings which are University property, it has been almost as
closely connected as any of them with the life and history of the
University. Cobham's Chapel, as has been already said, was the first
House of Congregation; and in the room above it the University kept its
manuscripts, until Duke Humphrey's Library was built. The chancel and
nave, moreover, were used by the gownsmen for both religious and secular
purposes; and it is strange to reflect that consecrated walls heard not
only sermons and disputations, but the jests of the _Terrce Filius_ and
the uproar which they excited. It was only when the Sheldonian was built
(1669) that St. Mary's ceased to be the scene of the "Act"--the modern
Encænia--and was restored to its original intention.
[Illustration: 0047]
The porch, with its spiral columns and statue of the Virgin and Child,
is much later than the rest of the building, being the work of Dr. Owen,
Archbishop Laud's chaplain. Architecturally it is not in keeping with
the nave and spire, but in itself, especially when the creeper which
en-wreathes it takes on its autumnal colour, it is very beautiful.
It was found necessary, in 1895, to restore the spire, which with the
pinnacles at its base is the special glory of St. Mary's.
The Church is intimately connected with the religious history of the
nation. Here Keble preached the famous Assize Sermon, which is regarded
as the beginning of the Oxford Movement; here, too, Newman, before he
withdrew to his retirement at Littlemore, preached those many sermons to
whose spiritual force men of all schools of thought have borne witness.
A later vicar was Dean Burgon, to whose memory the west window was put
up in 1891.
But Cranmer's connection with St. Mary's transcends all its other
associations. On September 12, 1555, he was here put on trial for his
religious opinions, which he defended with as much ability as courage.
He was then recommitted to his prison, and in December Rome pronounced
him guilty. The hardships of his imprisonment told upon his resolution,
and he was induced to write several letters of submission, in which
his so-called errors were recanted. On March 21, 1556, he was once more
brought to St. Mary's. His life was to be taken, but he was to crown
his humiliation by a public confession. Placed upon a wooden stage over
against the pulpit, he had to hear a sermon, at the close of which he
was to speak. His fortitude returned, and to the amazement of all he
recanted his recantation. "As for the Pope"--these were his memorable
words--"I utterly refuse him, as Christ's enemy and Antichrist, with all
his false doctrine; and as for the Sacrament, I believe as I have taught
in my book against the Bishop of Winchester. And for as much as my hand
offended, writing contrary to my heart, my hand shall first be punished
therefore; for, may I come to the fire, it shall be first burned." He
was hurried off to the stake, and there
"lifted his left hand to heaven,
And thrust his right into the bitter flame;
And crying in his deep voice, more than once,
'This hath offended--this unworthy hand!'