AD 580c. St Martin’s Church Canterbury Oldest English Church By Queen Bertha & King Æthelberht I

The Church of St Martin is an ancient Church of England parish church in Canterbury, England, situated slightly beyond the city centre. It is recognised as the oldest church building in Britain still in use as a church, and the oldest existing parish church in the English-speaking world, although Roman and Celtic churches had existed for centuries. The church is, along with Canterbury Cathedral and St Augustine’s Abbey, part of a World Heritage Site.

Based on the period, the church was built by a dark-skinned Hebrew Israelite King. Enclosed are images of King Æthelberht II, who was related to King Æthelberht I, and it is clear that he based on his phenotype, was a dark-skinned so-called BLACK man.

Black Anglo-Saxon King Saint Ethelbert 779c. Highclere Castle

“And they shall build houses, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them.  They shall not build, and another inhabit; they shall not plant, and another eat: for as the days of a tree are the days of my people, and mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands. They shall not labour in vain, nor bring forth for trouble; for they are the seed of the blessed of the LORD, and their offspring with them.” 

Isaiah-65: 21-23 KJV

Early History. St Martin’s was the private chapel of Queen Bertha of Kent (died in or after 601) before Saint Augustine of Canterbury arrived from Rome in 597. Queen Bertha was a Christian Frankish princess who arrived in England with her chaplain, Bishop Liudhard. Her pagan husband, King Æthelberht of Kent, facilitated her in continuing to practise her religion by renovating a Romano-British building (ca. AD 580). The Venerable Bede says the building had been in use in the late Roman period but had fallen into disuse. As Bede specifically names it, this church was dedicated to Saint Martin of Tours, a city located near where Bertha grew up. Although Bede implies that the building in Roman times had been a church, modern scholarship has questioned this and also whether it was a former Roman structure at all, suggesting that it could have been sixth century but built in the Roman way.

Part of the south wall of the chancel of St Martin’s Church, Canterbury, England. Built with Roman bricks.

Upon his arrival, Augustine used St Martin’s as his mission headquarters, immediately enlarging it (AD 597), and King Æthelberht was soon baptised here. With the subsequent establishments of Canterbury Cathedral and St Augustine’s Abbey, St Martin’s lost prestige but retains its priority and historical importance.

Disclaimer:  The gold coin used is closest to King Aethelbertht’s reign date. Due to the age, the oldest coin I could find was an Anglo-Saxon Gold Thrymsa-shilling dated 620-645ad sold by reputable coin dealer Silbury Coins in the UK.  The coin used is NOT of King Aethelbertht but a close relative.

Source: Article Wikipedia, gold coin Anglo Saxon Gold Thrymsa/Shilling 620-645AD Crondall Period Witmen type Extremely Rare Code: KS209 www.silburycoins.co.uk Fair Use Copyright Disclaimer under section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976, allowance is made for “fairuse” for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, education and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. .

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