Church of St Martin, Salisbury

The Church of St Martin stands in Salisbury, Wiltshire, as the city’s oldest parish church. Its chancel dates from about 1230, the tower and spire from the 14th century, and the nave and aisles from the 15th century. In the 19th century Thomas Henry Wyatt and David Brandon carried out a major restoration. The building was recognised as Grade I listed in 1952. The parish follows the Traditional Anglo-Catholic tradition within the Church of England. The church rejects the ordination of women as priests and bishops on theological grounds. Because of this stance it receives alternative episcopal oversight from the Bishop of Oswestry. Paul Thomas currently holds that role. The arrangement reflects the parish’s distinctive position in the diocese. Services and worship follow Anglo-Catholic practice. Visitors find a quiet interior with medieval fabric preserved behind later fittings. The chancel arch and nave arcades show early English work. The tower and spire rise above the surrounding rooftops. Inside, stained glass and fittings date largely from the 19th-century restoration. The church sits close to the market square in the heart of Salisbury.