St. Martin Church in Canterbury

• 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.