St Martin-le-Grand

3:36pm Monday 8th May 2006

An oasis of peace in the heart of busy Coney Street is the 15th century church of St Martin-le-Grand, badly damaged in the great German air raid of 1942.

It was decided to salvage as much as possible and a garden of rest and a small chapel were opened in April, 1968.

The rebuilt church, which serves as a chapel of ease to nearby St Helen's, is also a shrine of remembrance to the citizens of York who lost their lives in the 1914-18 war, those who died in the air raid, and those who fell in the 1939-45 war and have no known grave.

The contemporary organ, partly hung from the arches of the church, is a gift from the German government and the Evangelical Church of Germany.

A new north wall was constructed with a special five-sided tower to frame the 32-foot high St Martin window, one of the finest early 15th century windows in the country.

St Martin's is easily identified from a distance by its great clock, surmounted by the figure of an 18th century naval officer using a sextant.

The clock was first fitted on its bracket in 1668, but was also a victim of the air raid.

The Little Admiral, as the figure is known, survived the fire but the gilded head of Father Time is a replacement for the original which was destroyed.

The original church was probably built between 1437 and 1449.

Further details:

St Martin-le-Grand, Coney Street

Open: Mon-Fri 9am-4pm.

Admission: Free.

Disabled access: No.

Contact: (01904) 625186.

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