More information : (TR 15865775) St Martin's Church (GT). (1)
St Martin's Church, Canterbury, has a 7th century nave and a chancel probably older and altered in the C14th. It is said to be the site of the earliest church in England and the walls contain Roman bricks. (2)
In normal use. (3)
Reputed to be the oldest Parish Church in England. On the same site was a church used by Roman Christians. This is supposed to be the church outside the city walls where, before the Conversion, Queen Bertha worshipped with her chaplain Bishop Liudhard. The Saxon font is traditionally associated with the baptism of King Ethelbert. The exterior is built of bands of flint, Roman brick and rubble. Tiled roof and squat C14 crenellated tower. The interior contains a C7 chancel, altered in the C14, a Norman piscina and holy water stoup and a Squint. There is a memorial tablet to Sir John Finch, Speaker of the House of Commons in the reign of Charles I. (4)
Additional bibliography. (5-20)
Additional bibliography - not consulted. (21-23)
St Martin's Church. Elevations and a plan of all the visible early
walls has been made at 1/20. (24-25)
St Martin: 7th century foundation with ? earlier Roman building. 14th century tower. Vestry added to north east in 1845. (26)
The earliest work may well be Roman, the west wall of the chancel with doorway and perhaps the west wall. Much of the rest of the structure is 7th century with late Norman extension to the chancel and 14th century tower. 19th century vestry on north side, 1845.
(27)
Additional bibliography. (28-9)
An inscribed stone, with Latin inscription, is incorporated in the west jamb of the blocked south doorway, and is probably pre-900. (30) |