St Martin le Grand, York facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Martin le Grand, York |
|
|---|---|
St Martin le Grand, York
|
|
| 53°57′34.91″N 1°5′4.5″W / 53.9596972°N 1.084583°W | |
| Location | York |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Website | sthelenwithstmartinyork.org.uk |
| History | |
| Dedication | St Martin |
| Architecture | |
| Heritage designation | Grade II* listed |
| Administration | |
| Parish | St Helen, Stonegate with St Martin, Coney Street |
| Deanery | York |
| Archdeaconry | York |
| Diocese | Diocese of York |
| Province | Province of York |
St Martin le Grand, York is a historic Church of England building located in the city of York, England. It is known as a parish church, which means it serves a local community. This church has a special status as a Grade II* listed building, meaning it is very important and protected.
Contents
A Look Back: The Church's History
This church is very old, with parts of it dating back to the 11th century. That's over 900 years ago! The tall tower you see today was built much later, in the 15th century.
How the Church Changed Over Time
The church has been repaired and updated many times. From 1853 to 1854, a big restoration project took place. Builders JB and W Atkinson from York worked on it. They rebuilt the south side and the eastern parts of the aisles. A new decorative top, called a battlement, was added to the church.
A porch was built at the east end, facing Coney Street. Another porch was added near the tower on the south side. Beautiful new stained glass windows, made by William Wailes, were also put in.
The Famous Clock and "Little Admiral"
In 1856, a clock was added to the front of the church. It was made by Mr. Cooke. Below the clock, there is a carved figure known as the ‘Little Admiral’. This carving is even older than the clock, dating all the way back to 1778!
Rebuilding After World War II
St Martin le Grand was badly damaged during World War II. On April 29, 1942, it was hit by bombs. The church had to be rebuilt. This work happened between 1961 and 1968. Architect George Pace oversaw the project. A special screen behind the altar, called a reredos, was designed by artist Frank Roper.
Beautiful Stained Glass Windows
The church is famous for its large medieval stained glass window. This window shows different scenes from the life of St Martin, the church's patron saint. Luckily, this precious window was removed for safety in 1940. Because of this, it was not destroyed when the church was bombed in 1942.
Sharing a Parish
Today, St Martin le Grand is part of a joint parish. This means it shares a local community and clergy with another church nearby. The other church is St Helen's Church, Stonegate, York.
The Church Organ
The church has a large pipe organ. It was built in 1968 by a company called J. W. Walker & Sons Ltd. This organ was a special gift from the West German government and the Evangelical Church. You can find more details about this organ on the National Pipe Organ Register.
Images for kids
-
St Martin le Grand, York
-
The former south aisle, now the nave
-
The organ by J. W. Walker & Sons Ltd of 1968
