St. Martin’s Church, located just outside the centre of Canterbury in Kent, holds a unique and quietly powerful place in the history of Christianity, both in Britain and across Europe. Often described as the oldest church in continuous use in the English-speaking world, St. Martin’s is far more than an architectural curiosity. It is a living institution whose walls contain the story of the first wave of English Christianity, the influence of continental Europe on early English culture, and the beginnings of what would become one of the most important ecclesiastical centres in the medieval Western world. More than a relic of the past, it continues to function as a parish church, weaving together ancient and modern strands of religious life.
Origins Before Augustine
One of the most fascinating aspects of St. Martin’s is that its origins predate the arrival of St. Augustine in AD 597. While Augustine’s mission is rightfully celebrated as the beginning of the systematic Christianisation of Anglo-Saxon England, St. Martin’s existed before he ever set foot on British soil. The earliest origins of the church may be Romano-British. Scholarly consensus suggests that the building incorporates remnants of a Roman structure—possibly a small chapel or late Roman mausoleum—dating to the fourth century. This alone places St. Martin’s as a survivor from a distant layer of history when Christianity had already begun to spread through the Roman Empire.
By the sixth century, before the Gregorian mission reached Kent, the building was in use by Queen Bertha of Kent, a Frankish princess who came to England to marry King Æthelberht. As a Christian, Bertha was accompanied by her chaplain, Bishop Liudhard, and she requested a place of worship. The small, dilapidated Roman chapel east of Canterbury was restored for her use, and from this modest church her faith subtly influenced the religious atmosphere of the Kentish court. Although Æthelberht remained pagan until Augustine’s arrival, Bertha’s presence created a climate favourable to mission, making Canterbury an ideal landing place for Augustine’s efforts.
Thus, St. Martin’s holds the distinction of being the site where Christian liturgy was celebrated in England for at least two centuries before the establishment of the English Church as we normally understand it. This makes it a unique witness to the transition from late Roman Christianity through the pagan Anglo-Saxon period and into the Augustinian era.
Augustine’s Arrival and the Growth of English Christianity
When St. Augustine arrived in Kent in 597, sent by Pope Gregory the Great to re-evangelise the English peoples, St. Martin’s became central to the mission. Augustine initially used the church for preaching and baptisms, likely drawing upon the authority already associated with the queen’s Christian household. Æthelberht’s eventual conversion to Christianity is often discussed within the context of Augustine’s persuasive preaching, but the presence of St. Martin’s and the already-established Christian space at the heart of the royal household undoubtedly played an important role.
The church thus forms one part of what UNESCO (in its inscription of Canterbury as a World Heritage Site) calls the “Canterbury World Heritage Triangle.” Alongside Canterbury Cathedral—later the headquarters of the Archbishop of Canterbury—and St. Augustine’s Abbey, St. Martin’s stands as the first point in the chain of English ecclesiastical development. It is not simply a historic artifact but a foundational building upon which the English Church was literally and symbolically constructed.
Architecture and Archaeological Features
Architecturally, St. Martin’s is a patchwork of centuries, reflecting the many phases of its long life. The church’s structure contains unmistakable signs of Roman brickwork, including large flat tiles integrated into the walls. These are visible on the south wall and around the chancel, where the longest-surviving early sections remain. The use of Roman materials is not limited to spolia; much of the earliest fabric appears to be original Roman construction, making St. Martin’s one of the few buildings in England where Roman masonry still forms an integral part of an active church.
The chancel is widely accepted to be the oldest part of the church, likely both Roman and early Anglo-Saxon in its earliest fabric. The nave, however, shows significant later rebuilding. After Augustine’s establishment of the English Church, alterations were made to suit liturgical needs, though the original footprint was retained.
In the medieval period, further expansions and adjustments were made. The addition of windows in the Gothic style, alterations to the roof, and various interior modifications all date from later centuries. Despite these additions, the church has never lost its sense of intimate scale. Unlike the grandeur of Canterbury Cathedral, St. Martin’s remains decidedly modest, which is part of its charm. Its small size allows visitors and parishioners alike to appreciate the continuity of worship across centuries.
Inside, the atmosphere is contemplative. The furnishings include a variety of historical pieces, including a Norman font and memorial tablets from different periods of the church’s long history. Archaeological investigations have revealed burials dating from the early Christian era, further emphasising the church’s long-standing role as a sacred site.
A Living Parish Church
Although St. Martin’s is globally significant, it is important to emphasise that it remains a functioning parish church, not merely a tourist or archaeological attraction. This continuity of worship is one of the elements that makes St. Martin’s extraordinary. Services are held regularly, and the church remains a place of baptism, marriage, and community life. Its living tradition is part of what distinguishes it from other ancient churches that have become primarily heritage sites.
The churchyard, dotted with old and weathered graves, adds a further layer of history. Many notable figures from Canterbury’s past are buried here, though most graves are modest and reflect the ordinary parishioners who formed the church community over centuries.
St. Martin’s in the Context of Canterbury’s Christian Landscape
St. Martin’s cannot be viewed in isolation. Its significance is closely tied to the two great institutions that later grew up nearby: Canterbury Cathedral and St. Augustine’s Abbey. The three form a historical sequence reflecting the development of Christianity in England.
- St. Martin’s is the pre-Augustinian seed of English Christianity.
- St. Augustine’s Abbey represents the establishment of the monastic tradition and the centre of religious teaching and governance.
- Canterbury Cathedral evolved into the seat of the Archbishop of Canterbury, the spiritual leader of the Church of England and a central figure in global Anglicanism.
Without St. Martin’s, this evolution might have looked very different. It was the initial foothold that allowed the Augustinian mission to take root.
Cultural and Historical Importance
The significance of St. Martin’s extends beyond ecclesiastical history. It is a monument to early medieval cross-cultural interaction. Through Queen Bertha, St. Martin’s links England with the Frankish kingdoms of Europe, highlighting how Christianity facilitated diplomatic and cultural exchange across the Channel. It stands as a testament to the persistence of Christian worship across periods of political upheaval, including the decline of Roman Britain, the rise of Anglo-Saxon kingdoms, the Norman Conquest, and the Reformation.
Furthermore, St. Martin’s is a profound reminder that large historical movements often begin in small, quiet places. While Canterbury Cathedral towers above the city with Gothic majesty, St. Martin’s represents the humble origins of English Christianity in a simple, intimate chapel where history quietly unfolded.
Conclusion
St. Martin’s Church in Canterbury is one of the most remarkable buildings in England—not because of monumental architecture or dramatic events, but because of its sheer continuity. It is a place where Roman, early Christian, Anglo-Saxon, medieval, and modern lives meet. Its ancient bricks witnessed the earliest Christian services in Anglo-Saxon England, the arrival of Saint Augustine, and the birth of the English Church.
Today, visitors to St. Martin’s encounter not a museum but a living parish, worshipping in a building whose history stretches back over 1,600 years. Few places embody the phrase “living history” as powerfully.
