The Life and Travels of Mrs Suvi

Inspired after seeing the movie The Man Who Knew Infinity, I decided to have a look at my Cambridge photos from May and marvel again at the beauty of the iconic Trinity College.

Luckily for me, I was in Cambridge visiting friends. Otherwise I would’ve been quite lost with the huge array of colleges there. Like many tourist groups, we started the morning at Trinity’s Great Gate. Trinity is the largest of all Oxford and Cambridge colleges.

King Henry VIII founded the College in 1546 and thus he rightly adorns the front entrance.

The Great Court, which might be something you actually recognize as Cambridge. Probably because of the stunning fountain or the fact that it was featured in the movie Chariots of Fire.

The fountain is originally from 1605 but it was rebuilt in 1715. It used to have its’ own water supply from a nearby spring. They say that students used to wash themselves in the fountain back in the day!

You will feel as if you are walking in history, or perhaps even Hogwarts!

Here, in the middle, is the dining hall.

What I regret is not seeing the Wren Library. Everything was closed because of exams, so before you purchase the ticket to go in, make sure you know what you will be able to see. I got in free, as I accompanied a Cambridge student.

I’d have loved to climb this tower.

Do take a look at the Trinity Clock below. This is one of the oldest buildings – King Edward’s Gate or if you prefer – clock tower. The clock was first added in 1610. It has been replaced a few times, as would be expected. The Trinity clock strikes twice by the hour. The clock is used as a stopwatch for the annual Great Court Run.

The entrance to the chapel is on the right. There’s a text above the door that says “May the Lord keep watch over your coming in and your going out, from henceforth now and for ever.”

Now, let’s enter the chapel. It was completed in 1567.

First, you will come into the Ante-Chapel. This here is the tombstone of William John Beamont who was a Senior Fellow at Cambridge.

There you will also find six statues of great Trinity men. Below, Sir Isaac Newton, one of the greatest scientists of all time. That’s the World War II memorial behind him.

Poet, Lord Alfred Tennyson.

Inside the actual chapel.

The altar painting is by Benjamin West. It depicts St Michael binding Satan. On the floor you can see the World War I memorial.

The stalls are on the sides. The seating is laid out like in all traditional Cambridge college chapels. I had the chance to go to an Evensong at the King’s College’s chapel and it was mesmerising. In case you do not know what an Evensong is – it’s an early evening service. The choir at the Evensong sang magically, it’s really an experience you should not miss even if you are not greatly religious.

The Chapel is used as a venue for concerts and recitals and naturally Trinity has its’ own choir too. The stained glass windows are mid-Victorian.

Trinity’s organ is known as one of the finest organs in the UK.

A closeup of the eagle lectern.

Now if you are going to Trinity, what you must not miss is the tomb of a young student – a 15 year old boy. It’s known as the Sekford tomb  and you will find it in the Vestry in the Ante-Chapel. Unfortunately I only learned about it later, so sadly I did not know to look for it on my visit. They say that it’s quite unusual that he was buried in the Trinity chapel and not his home. To come to this arrangement must have meant he loved the college dearly.

The Great Gate as seen from inside the college grounds.

Let us finish the tour by one of Trinity’s own:

‘Tis better to have loved and lost
Than never to have loved at all.
-In Memoriam A.H.H., Lord Tennyson

Have you been to Cambridge? Or perhaps even studied there? I would love to hear more about your visit in the comments below.

xx