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Corpus Christi College (full name: '''The College of Corpus Christi and the Blessed Virgin Mary''', in daily usage often referred to simply as '''Corpus''') is a College of the University Of Cambridge . It is notable for being the only college to have been founded by Cambridge townspeople, having been founded in 1352 by the Guilds of Corpus Christi and the Blessed Virgin Mary. It is the second-smallest college (after Peterhouse ). HISTORY The licence to build an eighth college in the University of Cambridge was granted by Edward III in 1352 to the newly merged guilds of Corpus Christi and St Mary in the parish of St Bene't's. They immediately began the construction of a single modest court near the parish church and in 1356 it was ready to house a Master and two fellows, who drew up the college's statutes. Continuing their studies in Theology and Canon Law , they served as chaplains to the guild. The college's first couple of centuries saw its wealth increase, which was put on display as part of the Corpus Christi guild's annual procession. This involved parading through the streets to Magdalene bridge, before returning for an extravagant dinner. The parade continued until Henry VIII put a stop to it in 1535 . Corpus is exceptionally rich in silver, but its greatest treasure is the Parker Library , one of the finest and most important collections of medieval manuscripts in the world. Its most famous possession is the Canterbury Gospels , probably brought to England in 597 AD by St. Augustine , when he was sent by Pope Gregory I to convert the people of Britain. However, it also contains the principal manuscript of the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle , works by Matthew Paris and Chaucer's '' Troilus And Criseyde '', to name only a few. Christopher Marlowe is perhaps the college's most-celebrated son, having matriculated to Corpus in 1580 . Although little is known about his time there, it is often believed that it was during his study for his MA that he began his work as a Spy , a claim based on only a single cryptic statement by the Privy Council . In 1953 during renovation of the Master's Lodge a portrait of a man "in the 21st year of his age" was discovered. As the painting is dated 1585 , the year Marlowe was 21, it is inevitable that it has been claimed as a portrait of the playwright himself. In recent years, the College has spearheaded the Northern Ireland Initiative which was set up to encourage students from Northern Ireland to apply to Oxbridge, but particularly Cambridge. They hold "Cambridge Taster Days" across the province and Dr. Melanie Taylor spends much of her year travelling around Northern Ireland talking to prospective students and allaying their fears over the interviews and other myths that have appeared over the years. The college is the venue of the Intelligence History Seminar, a group of postgraduate historians that discuss newly released intelligence documents. These weekly meetings are presided over by the College's current President, Prof. Christopher Andrew . Invited guests occasionally include past members of the British and other intelligence services. At this seminar, views are expressed according to the Chatham House Rule and under an informal agreement with the group's members such views cannot be published. In May 2007, following the resignation of Professor Sir Alan Wilson as Master, Professor Paul Mellars , FBA, was appointed acting Master. {Link without Title} In July 2007, Corpus retained its position of 8th in the Tompkins Table with a score of 65.57% (25.9% firsts). {Link without Title} BUILDINGS Old Court, built in the 1350s, is one of Cambridge's oldest buildings and retains many of its original features, including sills and jambs to hold oil-soaked linen in the days prior to the arrival of glass. The court was possibly built from the core of an even older building and is the oldest courtyard in Oxford or Cambridge (a claim disputed by Merton College, Oxford who say the same of their Mob Quad ) as well as, some say, the oldest continually inhabited courtyard in the country. A new library complex, designed by Wright & Wright Architects, is in the process of being built in the building on the corner of Trumptington and Bene't Street that used to house the NatWest Bank. St Bene't's church next door is itself the oldest building in the city, and served as the college's chapel until one was built in around 1500. New Court (completed 1827 ) was designed by William Wilkins , who is buried in the college chapel. New Court is also the site of the Parker Library , which was begun in 1376 and much improved by a bequest from Matthew Parker , the college's Master between 1544 and 1553 , who as Archbishop Of Canterbury formed a fine collection of manuscripts from the libraries of Dissolved Monasteries . This court also houses Butler Library , which is the college's main library used by students. There are also several outlying college properties. These include Bene't Street Hostel and Botolph Court, the former being located just above the famous Eagle pub. These house students of all years, but a large proportion of rooms are occupied by freshers. Newnham House, which is located near to Newnham College , accommodates mostly second-years. The Robert Beldam Building, adjacent to Bene't Street Hostel is a modern accommodation block. There are also 2 houses (Nos 6 & 8) in Trumpington Street which are almost directly opposite the University Engineering Department , though these have been rented to private tenants since 1999. There is also a graduate campus at Leckhampton , which is situated about a mile west of the main college site, just outside the city centre. Here there are playing fields, 9½ acres (38,000 m&2) of gardens, an open air swimming pool and some of the best graduate housing in the University. ODDITIES, TRADITIONS, MYTHS AND LEGENDS As with all old institutions, Corpus has many legends, traditions and general oddities. Here is a sampling:
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