Help Save the Leper Chapel – Cambridge’s Oldest Building

The Leper Chapel of St Mary Magdalene, built in 1125, is Cambridge’s oldest complete building – a rare and beautiful survivor from medieval England. For 900 years, it has stood on the edge of the city: first as a place of refuge for society’s outcasts, then as a landmark of local history and resilience.

Now it needs our help.

The Chapel is in urgent need of repair. Cracks in the stonework, a leaking roof, and failing structural timbers threaten its future. Without restoration, we risk losing this irreplaceable piece of Cambridge’s heritage.

We are raising funds to conserve and protect the Leper Chapel for future generations – not just as a monument, but as a living space for community, culture, and quiet reflection.

Why It Matters

It’s one of the oldest surviving chapels in the country

A rare example of Norman architecture

A symbol of inclusion, care, and history at the edge of the city

Entirely maintained by local charity Cambridge Past, Present & Future – with no regular public funding

Your donation will help fund urgent restoration work and ensure the Leper Chapel remains a place of meaning, memory, and welcome.

Let’s protect this sacred space – together.