St. Martin is probably one of the oldest church in England which is still
in use as a parish church.
St. Martin Church was most probably build as a Roman church in the
4th century outside the walls of Canterbury.
On the arrival of Queen Bertha with her chaplain Bishop Liudhard, it was
restored and used for the Queen worship.
It was rededicated to St.
Martin of Tours by Bishop Liudhard (not surprising for a princess who
came from Tours and Gaulish bishop).
It was the first Church used for worship by St. Augustine and his companions,
as mentioned by Bede.
Bishop Liudhard was there, he probably died soon after the arrival of St.
Augustine, as Bede did not mention any more details about him.
Bishop Liudhard was buried in St. Martin but Archbishop Laurence removed
his remains to St. Peter and Paul Church.
A golden medalet showing the bust figure with inscription of LEVARDUS
EPS was discovered in St. Martin in the 19th C (It is now in the Liverpool
Museum). It is doubtless refers to Bishop Liudhard.
The above indicate, despite little histographic information, that this bishop
was highly regarded at the time.
The description of the Church
It is small church with a nave of 38 ft and a chancel of 20 ft.
We can still see many of the remains of the Romans brickworks, and the addition
of Saxon builders in its
walls.
Many scholars believe that it was origin a plan oblong chapel (and that
during the Saxon period a small chancel was added; probably in 6th C).
This was how St. Augustine and his companion saw St. Martin Church.
The nave was probably built in the 7th C.
Many additions can be traced to later periods (12th, 13th, 14th 19th and
20 C)
The new exiting chancel is larger than the original Saxon chancel and was
built in 12-13th C.
The nave was enlarged and the Tower in the West site was added probably in
late 14th C.
Inside the Church there is St. Martin Font. The legend said that it was in
this font that King Ethelbert was beptised. It
is clearly a medieval replica.
There is also a tomb called Queen Bertha Tomb. This is obviously another
medieval forgery.
