St Martin's Church, Wareham
| St Martin's Church, Wareham | ||
|---|---|---|
| St Martin's-on-the-walls, Wareham | ||
Style Saxon | | |
| Years built | circa 1030 | |
| Administration | ||
| Diocese | Salisbury | |
St Martin's Church, Wareham, sometimes St Martin's-on-the-walls, is an
Scheduled Ancient Monument.[1]
History and features
The church is reputed to have been founded by Saint
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]
The church is still in use, with a regular weekly communion on Wednesdays.
References
- ^ a b Historic England. "St Martin's Church (Grade I) (1003573)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 2 September 2016.
- ^ a b "Dorset's oldest church". BBC. 7 March 2006.
- ^ ISBN 0-9511365-0-X.
- ^ Taylor, H. M.; Taylor, Joan (1965). Anglo-Saxon Architecture. Vol. 2. Cambridge University Press. p. 638.
- ^ Knowles, Richard (1991). "Tale of an 'Arabian knight': the T. E. Lawrence effigy". Church Monuments. 6: 67–76.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Wareham St Martin's on the Walls.