St Martin's Church

St Martin’s Church is England’s oldest church still in continuous use, with worship continuing here for over 1,400 years. Queen Bertha prayed here, inspiring the conversion of King Ethelbert. Contributing one third to Canterbury's UNESCO World Heritage status, the church's nave dates back to 597 AD, whilst the chancel has walls which date to the 3rd/4th centuries. The church and its grounds are open for you to explore at your own pace from Monday to Sunday, 11.00-15.00.

On the 19th of September at 10.00, there will be a free guided tour, where attendees will learn all about the history of St Martin's Church, the lives of King Ethelbert and Queen Bertha, as well as the arrival of St Augustine in Anglo-Saxon Britain. To attend this tour, please book a free ticket on the Eventbrite link below.

Also on the 19th of September at 14.00, join us for an afternoon of historical storytelling, as The Pilgrim Tale-er enthrals us with the history of Canterbury, including stories about St Martin's very own Queen Bertha, King Ethelbert and Augustine. This fascinating performance will be accompanied by music

To continue the celebrations for the Heritage Open Days, St Martin's will be hosting a choral singing workshop in collaboration with Cantiacorum. Come and learn how to sing in this fun and interactive workshop on the 20th of September between 13.00-14.00.

Timings

Saturday 19 September:

St Martin's Church Tour - 10.00 - 11.00 and Pilgrim Tale-er Historical Storytelling Show - 14.00 - 14.30.

Sunday 20 September:

Cantiacorum Singing Workshop - 13.00 - 14.00.

Location & directions

St Martin's Church, 1 North Holmes Road, Canterbury, Kent, CT1 1QJ

Directions:

St Martin’s Church, located near St Augustine's Abbey at 1 N Holmes Rd, Canterbury CT1 1QJ. It is open from 11.00-15.00 from Monday to Sunday.

Contact on day:

Elena Field

Telephone number:

+447486068061

Booking information

Pre-booking requirement:

Pre-booking preferred

Booking conditions:

Please pre-book your free ticket for the tour by following the Eventbrite link. No pre-booking is required for the other events.

Booking website:

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/st-martins-church-history-tour-tickets-1986154663063?aff=oddtdtcreator&_gl=1*1l9my6m*_up*MQ..*_ga*MTEzMjQ5NDEzOC4xNzg1NDk3NjU3*_ga_TQVES5V6SH*czE3ODU0OTc2NTYkbzEkZzAkdDE3ODU0OTc2NTYkajYwJGwwJGgw

Accessibility details

St Martin’s Church does not have toilet facilities, refreshments, or on-site parking, but parking is available nearby at Longport Carpark, Longport, Canterbury CT1 1PF. St Martin's is only accessible via several steps inside and outside the church and is therefore difficult to access for wheelchair users.

Additional information

After your visit, why not walk 5 minutes down the road to St Augustine’s Abbey, another highlight of Canterbury’s World Heritage Site. St Martin's and St Augustine's Abbey are two separate organisations.

Max number of people:

50

Estimated duration:

1 hour(s)

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