| St Martin's Church, Wareham | |
| Fullname: | St Martin's-on-the-walls, Wareham |
| Style: | Saxon |
| Years Built: | circa 1030 |
| Denomination: | Church of England |
| Diocese: | Salisbury |
| Country: | United Kingdom |
| Dedication: | St Martin |
| Heritage Designation: | Grade I listed |
| Designated Date: | 7 May 1952 |
St Martin's Church, Wareham, sometimes St Martin's-on-the-walls, is an Anglo-Saxon church in the town of Wareham in Dorset, England. It is the most complete example of an Anglo-Saxon church in Dorset.[1] It is a Grade I listed building and a Scheduled Ancient Monument.
The church is reputed to have been founded by Saint Aldhelm in the 7th century.[2] It is thought that this earlier building was destroyed by King Canute in 1015.[2] The present building dates from about AD 1030. Anglo-Saxon features include a tall, narrow nave and chancel, late Anglo-Saxon wall-arcading in the north west aisle and traces of a Saxon door.[3] The building has been altered and expanded over the years but the nave and a tiny window in the north side of the chancel are original features. On the north wall of the chancel are 12th-century frescoes depicting Saint Martin on horseback, escorted by attendants, dividing his cloak and giving one half to a naked beggar.
On one of the walls a number of red stars have been painted, possibly representing plague deaths in the 17th century.[1]
During the Great Fire of Wareham in 1762, the church was used as a temporary refuge for those who had lost their homes. Later the church fell into disuse but at the beginning of the 20th century a programme of restoration began and the church was rededicated on 23 November 1936.
In the north aisle sits a stone tomb effigy of T. E. Lawrence (Lawrence of Arabia), created by his friend Eric Kennington.[4] Lawrence was buried at Moreton, Dorset in 1935.
The church is still in use, with a regular weekly communion on Wednesdays.