© P.E. Blanche 1999	ST. MARTIN'S CHURCH, CANTERBURY
	A World Heritage site

This church is said to be the oldest parish church in England that has been in continuous use. It is known to have been used since the 6th Century when it was used by Queen Bertha, the Christian Queen of Kent, prior to the arrival of St. Augustine from Rome. (Of course, he was plain old Augustine when he arrived, he didn't get the Saint added until later). Queen Bertha was a Christian when she arrived in England and her husband, King Ethelbert, allowed her to bring her Chaplain, Bishop Luidhard, with her so that she could continue to practise her religion in Canterbury.

There is a strong possibility that the church or the site of the church was used as far back as the 5th Century, towards the end of the Roman occupation of England. There is certainly evidence from finds in and around Canterbury that christianity did exist here at the time and the structure of the church contains many Roman bricks. Certainly, Bede refers to there being a church located on the East side of the City and also suggests that it was in use in the late Roman period.

The churchyard contains the graves of many notable local families and well-known people including T. Sidney Cooper, RA (artist) and Mary Tourtel, the creator of Rupert Bear.