St Martin's Church, Ruislip facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Martin's Church |
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| Parish Church of St Martin | |
View of the southern side of St Martin's Church
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| Country | United Kingdom |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Churchmanship | Anglo-Catholic |
| History | |
| Dedication | Saint Martin |
| Consecrated | 1245 |
| Architecture | |
| Heritage designation | Grade I - Listing 1285697 |
| Style | Norman |
| Years built | 1245 |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Parish of Ruislip |
| Deanery | Deanery of Hillingdon |
| Archdeaconry | Archdeaconry of Northolt |
| Episcopal area | See of Willesden |
| Diocese | Diocese of London |
St Martin's Church is an old church located in Ruislip, a town in west London. It's part of the London Borough of Hillingdon. Since 1950, it has been named a Grade I listed building by English Heritage. This means it's a very important historic building that needs to be protected.
The main parts of the church, like the area where the altar is (called the chancel) and the main seating area (called the nave), were built a long time ago in the 1200s. You can find the church at the top of Ruislip High Street, close to the Manor Farm site.
The Church's Story
The very first church in Ruislip was mentioned in the Domesday Book in 1086. However, the church you see today was built in 1245. This happened because more people were living in the area, and they needed a bigger church.
You can still find old stones with markings from the Norman period in the church grounds. These stones are thought to be from the original building.
Ruislip used to be owned by the Bec Abbey, a group of monks. They named the church St. Martin, after Saint Martin of Tours from Normandy.
William de Guineville, a leader from the Bec Abbey, likely pushed for the church to be rebuilt. He lived nearby at Manor Farm. The first known vicar (church leader) of St Martin's was William de Bermington in 1327.
Changes Over Time
Between 1404 and 1414, the Bec Abbey lost its lands because of heavy taxes during the Hundred Years War. By 1422, the church building was in poor condition. It was then given to the Dean and Canons of Windsor.
They built the chancel (the area around the altar) later in the 1400s. The local people rebuilt the south aisle (a side section of the church) in 1440. The church tower was also built in the 1400s and included a set of bells. In 1463, a man named Thomas Bettz left money in his will to help repair the bells. An extra part was added to the south aisle around 1500.
In 1870, the church building was greatly improved and repaired by a famous architect named George Gilbert Scott. This type of work is often called a Victorian restoration.
Later, in 1958, a special wooden beam called a rood beam was added to the church. It was put there to remember the local Gower family.
The Ruislip war memorial, which honors those who died in the First World War, was originally in the church graveyard. In 1976, it was moved closer to the entrance of Manor Farm.
Important People Remembered
St Martin's Church has memorials for several important people:
- Lady Mary Bankes: She was born in Ruislip and famously defended Corfe Castle during the English Civil War.
- Sir John Anderson (1852–1924): A Scottish merchant.
- Elisabeth Schumann (1888-1952): A German opera and lieder singer.
- Jessie Matthews OBE (1907-1981): A British film and stage entertainer.
