Worcester: St Martin w St Peter
Diocese of Worcester
Church, 642141
http://www.stmartinsworcester.org.ukOverview
Grid reference: SO 859 541
St Martin's church (in the Parish of St Martin with St Peter) on the corner of London Road with Victoria Avenue, Worcester, was built to serve the expanding population of the city towards the then rural part of the parish of Old St Martin, whose church in the Cornmarket it was intended to close. The stone used on the exterior quarried at Alveley, above river from Stourport. Windows and dressings in the walls and Nave pillars in Bath stone. The church was made a Grade 2 listed building as from 6 January 2014.
Visiting and facilities
Building is open for worship
Building
Ground Plan Description and Dimensions
Footprint of Church buildings: 762 m²
Description of Archaeology and History
1921: a stone War Memorial Cross was erected in the churchyard near the south west corner of the church. 1924: a tenor bell, dated 1480, formerly of St Michael-in-Bedwardine was received and kept in a temporary pent-house until permanent arrangements could be made. 1927: 6 stained glass windows in the apse of the Lady Chapel, the work of A J Davis of the Bromyard Guild. 1928: new organ built by Nicholson & Co.
1949: stone pulpit acquired from St Andrew's Worcester replaced the temporary wooden pulpit used since 1911. 1962: the Baptistry was completed. The original plans had been lost, and the architect F Potter designed a modified baptistry to replace the temporary wooden and corrugated iron baptistery that had served for 51 years. The original building firm, J & A Brazier were the contractors. 1972: the tenor bell moved to Cathedral. 1973: the High Altar was moved forward. 1977: new Reredos, consisting of a dorsal curtain, designed by Pat Russell from Abingdon. This was partly a memorial to the church of St Peter the Great which had been closed for demolition in 1972, and its parish incorporated into that of St Martin. 1976: organ overhauled and redesigned and enlarged by Trevor Tipple. 1985: further organ stops added. 1980s: Stations of the Cross designed by Pat Russell of Abingdon, in needlework.
1996-7: the roof was repaired at a cost of £48,000. 1998: church grounds landscaped and car-parking made. 1999: a votive candle stand designed and made by Christopher Lisney was placed in the Lady Chapel. 2000: organ rebuilt and enlarged by Trevor Tipple; St Martin’s Millennium project. Cost £60,000. 2001: vestry and office refurbished. 2002: bell repaired and fitted with an electrically-operated pull. The fleche was found to be much decayed, and was not replaced. 2004: all the chairs in the Nave were replaced with 230 modern comfortable chairs (195 in the main nave and 35 in the Lady Chapel). 70 stackable chairs were also purchased for use in the vestry and for concerts and events in the church. 2005: four purpose built oak notice boards were installed at the west end. 2008: two new notice boards were erected in the church grounds to enhance the looks of the church and improve communications. 2008: a completely new boiler system was installed to provide much more efficient heating for the church and Vestry areas. 2009: the bell tower was completely rebuilt replicating where possible the original design of the woodwork. The metal cross was also refurbished and re-erected. 2010: a Zimbelstern stop (six tuned bronze bells and a revolving external gold star) was added to the organ for the Centenary. 2012: wrought iron handrails were put on the chancel steps and by the Lady Chapel to assist communicants. 2012: a second votive candle stand designed and made by Christopher Lisney, funded by a gift to the church, was placed in the Peter and Paul chapel (North Transept). 2013: west end car park extended to provide four more parking spaces. Shed installed on north side of church for storage. 2014: St Martin’s Church was listed by Heritage England as Grade II. Rood screen cleaned and re-gilded 2015: a new glass door to the South Porch, with witting and a modern presentation of St Martin designed by the much-respected local artist Sara Hayward. 2015: Gas heating boiler replaced. Nave, side chapels & chancel re-wired, with a comprehensive LED lighting installation and power sockets. New hearing loop installed. 2016: handrails provided to steps in corridor adjacent to Lady Chapel. New earthing arrangement for lighting conductor installed. 2018: retaining wall at entrance to west car park rebuilt and car park repaired. Wrought iron handrails were put on the steps of the Peter and Paul chapel (North Transept) to assist people with mobility problems. CCTV installed to enhance security. 2018: Seller 2006 grand piano purchased to replace an Iruler boudoir grand made in Leipzig before 1943. This Iruler grand is now in the Lower Vestry. 2021; new kitchen installations and refurbishment of the understory, the Lower Vestry.
Interior
Interior Description
The general plan is cruciform. The Nave floor is in wood blocks, sloping down slightly to the chancel. The nave has five bays, with archways of 16ft height, to the side of the archways on both sides are wide processional passages. The South Transept serves as the Lady Chapel, with an Apsidal sanctuary paved with mosaics. Its north wall has an aumbry, and above it a mosaic panel of the Nativity, placed there in 1913. The North Transept serves as the Peter and Paul Chapel. The Chancel is raised three steps above the level of the nave floor. Chancel and nave are separated by a low stone wall. A high organ chamber to the north of the chancel balances a musicians' gallery to the south. There are choir stalls on each side. A Rood Screen is positioned above the chancel wall which was cleaned, preserved and regilded in 2014. The Sanctuary is raised two steps above the chancel level, and the altar platform is another four steps higher. The south side has stone recessed sedilia; the north has two aumbries. The sanctuary floor, and the central part of the chancel floor are paved in black and white marble squares. The Sacristy is to the north of the Chancel, under the organ chamber. The Baptistry, centrally placed at the west end of the nave, is apsidal in shape. There are entrance porches on either side, the north one being converted into a small kitchen for the serving of coffee, etc, after worship and refreshments during concerts. The South Porch was designed as the base of a tower which was never built. A single external Bell is positioned on the roof at the junction between nave and choir, originally under a copper-covered fleche. A large Vestry and separate office lie below the chancel and sanctuary, the church being built on a slope, providing this space.
Churchyard
Grid reference: SO 859 541
Burial and War Grave Information
It is unknown whether the building is consecrated.
It is unknown whether the churchyard has been used for burial.
It is unknown whether the churchyard is used for burial.
It is unknown whether the churchyard has war graves.
National Heritage record for England designations
There are no records of National Heritage assets within the curtilage of this site.
Environment
Ancient, Veteran & Notable Trees
Caring for God's Acre is a conservation charity working to support groups and individuals to investigate, care for, and enjoy the wildlife and heritage treasures found within churchyards and other burial grounds. Look on their website for information and advice and please contact their staff directly. They can help you manage this churchyard for people and wildlife.
To learn more about all the species recorded against this church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas. You can check the spread of records through the years, discovering what has been recorded and when, plus what discoveries might remain to be uncovered.
There are no records of Ancient, Veteran or Notable Trees within the curtilage of this site.
Renewables
| Renewable | Installed |
|---|---|
| Solar PV Panels | No |
| Solar Thermal Panels | No |
| Biomass | No |
| Wind Turbine | No |
| Air Source Heat Pump | No |
| Ground Source Heat Pump | No |
| Ev Charging | No |
Species summary
There are no records of species within the curtilage of this site.
Caring for God's Acre is a conservation charity working to support groups and individuals to investigate, care for, and enjoy the wildlife and heritage treasures found within churchyards and other burial grounds. Look on their website for information and advice and please contact their staff directly. They can help you manage this churchyard for people and wildlife.
To learn more about all the species recorded against this church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas. You can check the spread of records through the years, discovering what has been recorded and when, plus what discoveries might remain to be uncovered.
'Seek advice' Species
More information on species and action to be taken upon discovery.
Caring for God's Acre is a conservation charity working to support groups and individuals to investigate, care for, and enjoy the wildlife and heritage treasures found within churchyards and other burial grounds. Look on their website for information and advice and please contact their staff directly. They can help you manage this churchyard for people and wildlife.
To learn more about all the species recorded against this church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas. You can check the spread of records through the years, discovering what has been recorded and when, plus what discoveries might remain to be uncovered.
Further information
Sources
Showing 12 entries of 12 View All
Quinquennial Inspections
Submit a change
If you notice something incorrect or missing, please explain it in the form below and submit it to our team for review.