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St Martin's Church, Canterbury

The Church of St Martin is an ancient Church of England parish church in Canterbury, England, situated slightly beyond the city centre. It is recognised as the oldest church building in Britain still in use as a church,[2] and the oldest existing parish church in the English-speaking world, although Roman and Celtic churches had existed for centuries. The church is, along with Canterbury Cathedral and St Augustine's Abbey, part of a World Heritage Site.

Church of St Martin
St Martin's Church
LocationCanterbury, Kent, England
Coordinates51°16′40.76″N 1°5′37.77″E / 51.2779889°N 1.0938250°E / 51.2779889; 1.0938250
Builtbefore AD 597
Governing bodyPCC St. Martin & St. Paul, Canterbury
Official nameCanterbury Cathedral, St Augustine's Abbey, and St Martin's Church
TypeCultural
Criteriai, ii, vi
Designated1988 (12th session)
Reference no.496
StateUnited Kingdom
RegionEurope and North America
Listed Building – Grade I
Official nameChurch of St Martin
Designated28 February 1952
Reference no.1242166[1]
Location of Church of St Martin in Kent

Since 1668 the church has been part of the benefice of St Martin and St Paul Canterbury. Both St Martin's and nearby St Paul's churches are used for weekly services. The current rector of the parish is the Reverend Mark Richard Griffin.

Early history Edit

St Martin's was the private chapel of Queen Bertha of Kent (died in or after 601) before Saint Augustine of Canterbury arrived from Rome in 597. Queen Bertha was a Christian Frankish princess who arrived in England with her chaplain, Bishop Liudhard. Her pagan husband, King Æthelberht of Kent, facilitated her in continuing to practise her religion by renovating a Romano-British building (ca. AD 580).[3] The Venerable Bede says the building had been in use in the late Roman period but had fallen into disuse. As Bede specifically names it, this church was dedicated to Saint Martin of Tours, a city located near where Bertha grew up.[4] Although Bede implies that the building in Roman times had been a church, modern scholarship has questioned this and also whether it was a former Roman structure at all, suggesting that it could have been sixth century but built in the Roman way.[3]

Upon his arrival, Augustine used St Martin's as his mission headquarters, immediately enlarging it (AD 597), and King Æthelberht was soon baptised here. With the subsequent establishments of Canterbury Cathedral and St Augustine's Abbey, St Martin's lost prestige but retains its priority and historical importance.

Shortly before 1844, a hoard of gold coins which may date from the late 6th century was found in the churchyard, one of which is the Liudhard medalet, which bears an image of a diademed figure with a legend referring to Liudhard.[5]

Architecture Edit

 
Roman bricks in the chancel wall

Local finds prove that Christianity did exist in this area of the city at the time, and the church contains many reused Roman bricks or spolia, as well as complete sections of walls of Roman tiles. At the core of the church the brick remains of a Roman tomb were integrated into the structure.[6] Several sections of walls are clearly very early, and it is possible that a blocked square-headed doorway in the chancel was the entrance to Bertha's church, while other sections of wall come from the period after the Gregorian mission in the 7th or 8th centuries, including most of the nave. The apse that was originally at the east end has been removed.[7] The tower is much later, in Perpendicular style. The church is a Grade I listed building.[1]

Graves Edit

The churchyard contains the graves of many notable local families and well-known people including: Canon William Cadman, a 19th century evangelist,[8] Thomas Sidney Cooper, RA (artist) and Mary Tourtel, the creator of Rupert Bear.

Music Edit

The church has a continuing musical tradition from the monks of St Augustine to the present day.

The tower has three bells set for swing-chiming, using levers. The tenor weighs 6 long cwt 2 qr 0 lb (728 lb or 330 kg).[9]

References Edit

  1. ^ a b Historic England. "Church of St Martin (1242166)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 25 January 2015.
  2. ^ Malam, John (2 May 2019). Christian Sites. Raintree Publishers. p. 7. ISBN 978-1-4747-5419-4.
  3. ^ a b Blair, John (2006). The Church in Anglo-Saxon Society. Oxford: OUP. pp. 70–71. ISBN 978-0-19-921117-3.
  4. ^ Bede (1910). Ecclesiastical History of the English People. Book 1.XXVI . Translated by Jane, L.C.; Sellar, A.M. – via Wikisource.
  5. ^ Grierson, Philip (1979). "The Canterbury (St. Martin's) Hoard of Frankish and Anglo-Saxon Coin-Ornaments". Dark Age Numismatics: Selected Studies. London: Variorum Reprints. pp. 38–51, Corregida 5. ISBN 0-86078-041-4.
  6. ^ Simon Thurley (2010). Making England: The Shadow of Rome, 410-1130. Gresham College. Event occurs at 8:00. Retrieved 15 June 2013.
  7. ^ Service, pp. 14-17 and: John Julius Norwich, The Architecture of Southern England, p.313, Macmillan, London, 1985, ISBN 0-333-22037-4
  8. ^ Shelford, Rev. Leonard Edmund (1892). A Memorial of the Rev. William Cadman M.A.,. Partnernoster Buildings E C, London: Wells Gardner, Darton & Co. p. 150.
  9. ^ Love, Dickon. "Canterbury, St Martin". Love's Guide to the church bells of Kent. Retrieved 19 November 2019.

Sources Edit

  • F. Haverfield, "Early British Christianity" The English Historical Review Vol. 11, No. 43. (Jul., 1896)
  • Service, Alastair, The Buildings of Britain, A Guide and Gazetteer, Anglo-Saxon and Norman, 1982, Barrie & Jenkins (London), ISBN 0-09-150131-8

External links Edit

  • Canterbury Buildings
  • Website of St Martin's Church
  • Triadic UNESCO World Heritage property, "Canterbury Cathedral, St Augustine's Abbey, and St Martin's Church"

martin, church, canterbury, church, martin, ancient, church, england, parish, church, canterbury, england, situated, slightly, beyond, city, centre, recognised, oldest, church, building, britain, still, church, oldest, existing, parish, church, english, speaki. The Church of St Martin is an ancient Church of England parish church in Canterbury England situated slightly beyond the city centre It is recognised as the oldest church building in Britain still in use as a church 2 and the oldest existing parish church in the English speaking world although Roman and Celtic churches had existed for centuries The church is along with Canterbury Cathedral and St Augustine s Abbey part of a World Heritage Site Church of St MartinSt Martin s ChurchLocationCanterbury Kent EnglandCoordinates51 16 40 76 N 1 5 37 77 E 51 2779889 N 1 0938250 E 51 2779889 1 0938250Builtbefore AD 597Governing bodyPCC St Martin amp St Paul CanterburyUNESCO World Heritage SiteOfficial nameCanterbury Cathedral St Augustine s Abbey and St Martin s ChurchTypeCulturalCriteriai ii viDesignated1988 12th session Reference no 496StateUnited KingdomRegionEurope and North AmericaListed Building Grade IOfficial nameChurch of St MartinDesignated28 February 1952Reference no 1242166 1 Location of Church of St Martin in KentSince 1668 the church has been part of the benefice of St Martin and St Paul Canterbury Both St Martin s and nearby St Paul s churches are used for weekly services The current rector of the parish is the Reverend Mark Richard Griffin Contents 1 Early history 2 Architecture 3 Graves 4 Music 5 References 6 Sources 7 External linksEarly history EditSt Martin s was the private chapel of Queen Bertha of Kent died in or after 601 before Saint Augustine of Canterbury arrived from Rome in 597 Queen Bertha was a Christian Frankish princess who arrived in England with her chaplain Bishop Liudhard Her pagan husband King AEthelberht of Kent facilitated her in continuing to practise her religion by renovating a Romano British building ca AD 580 3 The Venerable Bede says the building had been in use in the late Roman period but had fallen into disuse As Bede specifically names it this church was dedicated to Saint Martin of Tours a city located near where Bertha grew up 4 Although Bede implies that the building in Roman times had been a church modern scholarship has questioned this and also whether it was a former Roman structure at all suggesting that it could have been sixth century but built in the Roman way 3 Upon his arrival Augustine used St Martin s as his mission headquarters immediately enlarging it AD 597 and King AEthelberht was soon baptised here With the subsequent establishments of Canterbury Cathedral and St Augustine s Abbey St Martin s lost prestige but retains its priority and historical importance Shortly before 1844 a hoard of gold coins which may date from the late 6th century was found in the churchyard one of which is the Liudhard medalet which bears an image of a diademed figure with a legend referring to Liudhard 5 Architecture Edit Roman bricks in the chancel wallLocal finds prove that Christianity did exist in this area of the city at the time and the church contains many reused Roman bricks or spolia as well as complete sections of walls of Roman tiles At the core of the church the brick remains of a Roman tomb were integrated into the structure 6 Several sections of walls are clearly very early and it is possible that a blocked square headed doorway in the chancel was the entrance to Bertha s church while other sections of wall come from the period after the Gregorian mission in the 7th or 8th centuries including most of the nave The apse that was originally at the east end has been removed 7 The tower is much later in Perpendicular style The church is a Grade I listed building 1 Graves EditThe churchyard contains the graves of many notable local families and well known people including Canon William Cadman a 19th century evangelist 8 Thomas Sidney Cooper RA artist and Mary Tourtel the creator of Rupert Bear Music EditThe church has a continuing musical tradition from the monks of St Augustine to the present day The tower has three bells set for swing chiming using levers The tenor weighs 6 long cwt 2 qr 0 lb 728 lb or 330 kg 9 Images of St Martin s Church Canterbury West elevation Interior view Interior St Bertha of Kent wooden statue south wall of the church Graveyard Grave of Mary and Herbert TourtelReferences Edit a b Historic England Church of St Martin 1242166 National Heritage List for England Retrieved 25 January 2015 Malam John 2 May 2019 Christian Sites Raintree Publishers p 7 ISBN 978 1 4747 5419 4 a b Blair John 2006 The Church in Anglo Saxon Society Oxford OUP pp 70 71 ISBN 978 0 19 921117 3 Bede 1910 Ecclesiastical History of the English People Book 1 XXVI Translated by Jane L C Sellar A M via Wikisource Grierson Philip 1979 The Canterbury St Martin s Hoard of Frankish and Anglo Saxon Coin Ornaments Dark Age Numismatics Selected Studies London Variorum Reprints pp 38 51 Corregida 5 ISBN 0 86078 041 4 Simon Thurley 2010 Making England The Shadow of Rome 410 1130 Gresham College Event occurs at 8 00 Retrieved 15 June 2013 Service pp 14 17 and John Julius Norwich The Architecture of Southern England p 313 Macmillan London 1985 ISBN 0 333 22037 4 Shelford Rev Leonard Edmund 1892 A Memorial of the Rev William Cadman M A Partnernoster Buildings E C London Wells Gardner Darton amp Co p 150 Love Dickon Canterbury St Martin Love s Guide to the church bells of Kent Retrieved 19 November 2019 Sources EditF Haverfield Early British Christianity The English Historical Review Vol 11 No 43 Jul 1896 Service Alastair The Buildings of Britain A Guide and Gazetteer Anglo Saxon and Norman 1982 Barrie amp Jenkins London ISBN 0 09 150131 8External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to St Martin Canterbury Canterbury Buildings Website of St Martin s Church Triadic UNESCO World Heritage property Canterbury Cathedral St Augustine s Abbey and St Martin s Church Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title St Martin 27s Church Canterbury amp oldid 1165092882, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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