Where Oxford University Started

This lovely old church is St Mary The Virgin church and is Oxfords central parish church it was built around about 1086 and in the 13th century it became the University church and remains so today.
In the 13th century St Mary's was the University it was here that lectures were held and they had great debates.
In 1556 in the nave of the church Sir Thomas Cranmer was tried and condemned for treason, Cranmer was the author of The Common Book of Prayer. He was burned to death in front of Balliol College.
Now there's a cheery story for you, this church is very beautiful and the choir stalls fascinated me the wood was so pitted and just running your hand along them made you almost hear the stories they were trying to tell.