St Martin's Church, Wareham facts for kids

Quick facts for kids St Martin's Church, Wareham
St Martin's-on-the-walls, Wareham
50°41′20″N 2°06′41″W / 50.6888°N 2.1115°W / 50.6888; -2.1115
Country	United Kingdom
Denomination	Church of England
History
Dedication	St Martin
Architecture
Heritage designation	Grade I listed
Designated	7 May 1952
Style	Saxon
Years built	circa 1030
Administration
Diocese	Salisbury

St Martin's Church in the town of Wareham, Dorset, is a special church built during the Anglo-Saxon period of English history. It is considered the best-preserved Anglo-Saxon church in the whole county of Dorset.

Because of its great age and importance, it is protected as a Grade I listed building and a scheduled monument. This means it is a nationally important historic site that must be preserved for the future.

History of St Martin's Church

A stone sculpture of T. E. Lawrence lies in the church.

The story of St Martin's Church goes back over 1,300 years. It is a building that has survived wars, fires, and centuries of change.

An Ancient Beginning

It is believed that the first church on this spot was built in the 7th century by a saint named Aldhelm. However, that early wooden church was likely destroyed in 1015 by the Viking king King Canute during his invasion of England.

The stone church you can see today was built around the year 1030. It has many features from the Anglo-Saxon era. The main parts of the church, the nave (where the people sit) and the chancel (the area near the altar), are tall and narrow, which was a common style back then. You can still see traces of an original Saxon doorway and a tiny, ancient window.

Art and Mysteries Inside

On the north wall of the chancel, there are amazing paintings called frescoes, which were made in the 12th century. A fresco is a special type of painting done on wet plaster, so the art becomes part of the wall itself. These frescoes tell the story of Saint Martin, the saint the church is named after. They show him on horseback, cutting his cloak in half to share with a poor beggar who had no clothes.

Another mystery is found on one of the walls: a number of red stars. Some historians think these were painted in the 17th century to mark the deaths of people from the Great Plague.

A Place of Refuge and Revival

In 1762, a huge fire swept through the town of Wareham. During this disaster, St Martin's Church was used as a safe place for people who had lost their homes.

After the fire, the church was not used for many years and fell into disrepair. But in the early 20th century, people decided to save this historic building. After a lot of restoration work, the church was officially reopened and rededicated on November 23, 1936.

The Lawrence of Arabia Connection

Inside the church, you can find a life-sized stone sculpture of a man lying down. This is an effigy of T. E. Lawrence, who was famously known as "Lawrence of Arabia." Lawrence was a British soldier, writer, and adventurer.

The sculpture was made by his friend, the artist Eric Kennington. Although Lawrence is buried in a different town, this beautiful effigy was placed in St Martin's to honour him.

Today, St Martin's Church is still an active place of worship.