St Martin’s Church through the ages: A celebration of St Martin’s history through music, art and archival material.
1 North Holmes Road, Canterbury, Kent, CT1 1QJ
From the 13th to the 21st of September 2025, St Martin’s will host an exhibition of illustrative pieces and archival material. With over 1400 years of history, it is little surprise that St Martin’s has experienced several architectural changes both within and outside its walls. Art, illustrations and church building plans have recorded these developments throughout the centuries. This exhibition goes back to the days of Queen Bertha, and exhibits not only St Martin’s physical changes, but the people within it and its life as a place of historical interest.
On the 13th of September, St Martin’s will be opening its doors to the Canterbury Gregorian Music Society, who will be hosting a special ‘The Angelus, the Ave and the Salve’ Gregorian Chant session in honour of St Martin at 12.30 pm. Gregorian chants are a wonderful way to hear the music that would have likely been sung by St Augustine and other monks all those centuries ago. Feel like giving Gregorian chant a go? Come along at noon to a chant taster session, where you'll learn to sing 'Ave Maria’. You're then welcome to join the main service at 12.30 pm!
On the 20th of September, the medieval lutist Gareth Balch will be at St Martin's from 1.00 pm to 3.00 pm. Balch will be doing varied 20-minute sessions of mindfulness lute and vihuela music, a chance to meet the player and instruments and an opportunity to dance a bransle (no experience necessary).
Timings & Tours
- Saturday 13 September:
- The Canterbury Gregorian Music Society, ‘The Angelus, the Ave and the Salve’ Gregorian Chant in honour of St Martin and Chant Taster Session 12.00. Exhibition and general opening hours 11.00 - 15.00.
- Sunday 14 September:
- 11.00 - 15.00
- Wednesday 17 September:
- 11.00 - 15.00
- Thursday 18 September:
- 11.00 - 15.00
- Friday 19 September:
- 11.00 - 15.00
- Saturday 20 September:
- 11.00 - 15.00 - Gareth Balch music session 13.00 - 15.00.
- Sunday 21 September:
- 11.00 - 15.00
Location & directions
1 North Holmes Road, Canterbury, Kent, CT1 1QJ
- Directions:
- About a five to ten-minute walk from St Augustine's Abbey.
- Contact on day:
- Elena Field
- Telephone number:
- +447486068061
Booking information
- Pre-booking requirement:
- Pre-booking not required
Accessibility details
Unfortunately, due to its age, St Martin's is not very accessible. Access is through multiple steps throughout the graveyard, and then several steps in the church itself. There are no toilet facilities on site. Assistance and well-behaved dogs are welcome within most areas of the building. On Thursdays at midday, there is a 20-minute service. Visitors are welcome to join the service, but are asked to be mindful that they may need to wait 20 minutes if they simply wish to visit the church.
Additional information
St Martin's is open from Wednesday - Sunday, 11.00 - 15.00. The exhibition will be displayed from the 13th to the 21st of September 2025.
