St Martin's, Holt
Holt church is a gem, a Grade 1 listed beauty, dating back to the Saxon era and nestling in the countryside, on the Severn Way, about a mile from the village of Holt Heath.
We normally hold two services a month inside - and one OUTSIDE - check our Worship page for details of our “Wild Church”! We also host Quiet Days here - opportunities to be still and creative, to find peace and focus, four times a year.
We have a truly lovely churchyard which we use for Harvest lunches and parish picnics.
We are trying to become more eco-friendly in our churchyard, with “no mow” areas to encourage pollinators and wildlife.
St Martin’s is a stunning setting for weddings too!
St Martin's Church
Holt, Worcester
WR2 6NG
When can I visit?
St Martin's Church is normally open during daylight hours
About the Church building
Built of red sandstone, the church was enlarged in the 13th/14th centuries. The chancel is 14th century and the west tower, 15th century. Much restoration and embellishment was carried out during the second half of the 19th century by the rector, Charles Sale, and his wife Mary. She did a lot of the stone carving which can be seen inside the church. A Grade I listed building it features in Simon Jenkins’ England’s Thousand Best Churches and in Betjeman’s Best British Churches (2011).
Websites
British History Online: Entry for Holt.
Grade I Listed Building: Listing Details Here.
Rough seating plan of 1829: Church Plans Online
A Church Near You.
References and some further sources:
Aiken, John. Census of Religious Worship, 1851: The Returns for Worcestershire.
Bridges, Tim. Churches of Worcestershire (2005)
Brooks, Alan, and Nikolaus Pevsner. Buildings of England: Worcestershire (2007)
Morgan, Paul. Inspections of churches and parsonage houses in the Diocese of Worcester in 1674, 1676, 1684, and 1687 (1986)
Noake, John. The Rambler in Worcestershire or, Stray Notes on Churches and Congregations. Volume I (1848)
Ransome, Mary. The State of the Bishopric of Worcester, 1782-1808 (1968)
Transactions of Worcestershire Archaeological Society, New Series, Vol X (1933), Vol XVI (1939)
Worcestershire Archive and Archaeology Service, The Hive Worcester, Parish Papers: Holt, Ref. 850