St Martin's Church
St Martin's Church is one of the narrated stops on the self-guided Canterbury audio walking tour in Gingerguide. Plan about ~30 min here. Press play at the spot for its two to three minute story, or ask the AI guide anything about it.
- Type religious
- Suggested visit ~30 min
- Canterbury Canterbury guide
About St Martin's Church
The oldest parish church still in use in the English-speaking world, Queen Bertha's chapel and St Augustine's mission base, its flint walls studded with reused Roman brick.
St Martin's Church, east of Canterbury Cathedral, is recognised as the oldest parish church in the English-speaking world still in continuous use, with worship there for over 1,400 years. Before Augustine's arrival it served as the private chapel of Queen Bertha, the Christian Frankish wife of the pagan King Aethelberht of Kent, and when Augustine came in 597 he used it as the base of his mission before the cathedral and abbey were built.
The Venerable Bede records it as already in use and dedicated to St Martin of Tours, and its fabric incorporates reused Roman brick, reflecting Romano-British origins that may predate Augustine. It is a Grade I listed building and remains an active Anglican parish church, the only one of Canterbury's three World Heritage monuments still in continuous use for worship; together they form the UNESCO site inscribed in 1988.
Did you know? St Martin's is the oldest parish church in the English-speaking world still in continuous use; Christians have worshipped on this exact spot without a break for more than fourteen hundred years.
How long should you spend at St Martin's Church?
Plan about ~30 min at St Martin's Church. That is enough to take it in and hear its narrated story; stay longer if it grabs you. The tour is self-guided, so there is no rush.
Is St Martin's Church worth visiting?
St Martin's Church is one of the 13 sights the Gingerguide team researched and narrated in Canterbury, so it earns a place on a self-guided walk. Its story explains why it matters, and you can ask the AI guide anything the story leaves open.
Nearby stops in Canterbury
Sources and further reading
Where to check the facts about St Martin's Church and read more:
Day 2 of the Canterbury in 2 days itinerary →
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Hear the story of St Martin's Church
Preview the Canterbury tour free in the Gingerguide app.