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St Martin's Church, Wareham

Coordinates : 50°41′20″N 2°06′41″W / 50.6888°N 2.1115°W / 50.6888; -2.1115 St Martin's Church, Wareham , sometimes St Martin's-on-the-walls , is an Anglo-Saxon church in the tow...

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Coordinates: 50°41′20″N2°06′41″W / 50.6888°N 2.1115°W / 50.6888; -2.1115

St Martin's Church, Wareham, sometimes St Martin's-on-the-walls, is an Anglo-Saxon church in the town of Wareham in Dorset, England. It is the most complete example of an Anglo-Saxon church in Dorset.[2] It is a Grade I listed building and a scheduled monument.[1]

History and features

T. E. Lawrence effigy

The church is reputed to have been founded by Saint Aldhelm in the 7th century.[3] It is thought that this earlier building was destroyed by King Canute in 1015.[3] The present building dates from about AD 1020. Anglo-Saxon features include a tall, narrow nave and chancel, late Anglo-Saxon wall-arcading in the north west aisle and traces of a Saxon door.[4] The building has been altered and expanded over the years but the nave and a tiny window in the north side of the chancel are original features. On the north wall of the chancel are 12th-century frescoes depicting Saint Martin on horseback, escorted by attendants, dividing his cloak and giving one half to a naked beggar.

On one of the walls a number of red stars have been painted, possibly representing plague deaths in the 17th century.[2]

During the Great Fire of Wareham in 1762, the church was used as a temporary refuge for those who had lost their homes. Later the church fell into disuse but at the beginning of the 20th century a programme of restoration began and the church was rededicated on 23 November 1936.

In the north aisle sits a stone tomb effigy of T. E. Lawrence (Lawrence of Arabia), created by his friend Eric Kennington.[5] Lawrence was buried at Moreton, Dorset in 1935.[6][7]

The church is still in use, with a regular weekly communion on Wednesdays.

References

  1. 12Historic England. "St Martin's Church (Grade I) (1003573)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 2 September 2016.
  2. 12"Dorset's oldest church". BBC. 7 March 2006.
  3. 12Ladle, Lilian (1986). Explore Wareham. Lady St Mary Parochial Church Council. ISBN 0-9511365-0-X.
  4. ↑Taylor, H. M.; Taylor, Joan (1965). Anglo-Saxon Architecture. Vol. 2. Cambridge University Press. p. 638.
  5. ↑Knowles, Richard (1991). "Tale of an 'Arabian knight': the T. E. Lawrence effigy". Church Monuments. 6: 67–76.
  6. ↑Kerrigan, Michael (1998). Who Lies Where – A guide to famous graves. London: Fourth Estate Limited. p. 51. ISBN 978-1-85702-258-2.
  7. ↑Wilson, Scott. Resting Places: The Burial Sites of More Than 14,000 Famous Persons, 3d ed.: 2. McFarland & Company (2016) ISBN 0786479922
  • Wareham Churches
  • Medieval Wall Painting in the English Parish Church: Wareham