St Martin

It has been suggested there is Saxon fabric here: further analysis may prove rewarding.

The east window of the chancel is of four-lights and is perhaps C14.

The box pews may date from the late C17 or early C18 too.

The panelled pulpit is variously dated as c1700 (Cherry and Pevsner

The twisted altar rails are probably late C17 and surround the altar on three sides.

The font, under the tower, is an interesting item: it is plain and octagonal but on its north side, attached to the stem, has a small subsidiary bowl (very occasionally found on other English fonts) and may have been to hold the chrism used in medieval baptism.

There is a hatchment on the south wall of the nave.

There are a number of good wall monuments (detailed in Cherry and Pevsner)

The other significant monuments are to Judith Wakeman , Edward Seaward , John Codrington and Eliza Mortimer There is a little medieval glass surviving in the west and nave south windows.

HISTORY: The first church on this site was consecrated on 6 July 1065 by Bishop Leofric who was the founder of Exeter Cathedral and which superseded that at Crediton.

It has been suggested (e g Scott) that there is 'probably some of the original masonry in the walls of the nave.' This might be so but there is nothing at all that is architecturally characteristic of C11 in the fabric of the building.

The datable features of the exterior are of the late C14

SOURCES: Cherry, B, and Pevsner, N, The Buildings of England: Devon, 391 Scott, JGM, St Martin's Church, Exeter, Devon [guide for the Churches Conservation Trust], REASONS FOR DESIGNATION: St Martin's Church, Cathedral Close, is designated at Grade I for the following principal reasons: * It is of outstanding interest as a medieval town church and whose origins lie in late Saxon years.

It retains its medieval fabric with datable features of the C14

C15 * It is one of a group of small churches in central Exeter which collectively give a good sense of how major medieval English towns

cities were abundantly supplied with places of worship * It was not restored in Victorian times and has retained an extensive collection consisting of pre-Victorian box-pews, gallery, pulpit, altar rails and pulpit * It has a series of significant C17 to C19 wall monuments, in particular that of Philip Hooper * The church has exceptionally strong group value with the northern side of the Cathedral Close and the heart of the city