St George, Ruishton

St Martin, Higher Town, St Martin's, Isles of Scilly

Each of the inhabited Isles of Scilly has its own church, with all but Tresco dedicated to the same saint as the island itself. Although the islands have a Christian history stretching back into the post-Roman Celtic period, the present churches date from the 19th Century.

The little church of St Martin sits on the edge of Higher Town, the main settlement on the island. It was built in 1866 for Augustus Smith, who, as Lord Proprietor of the Isles of Scilly between 1834 and 1872, introduced a number of reforms to develop the islands' infrastructure and economy, most notably through the introduction of crops of early potatoes and cut flowers. It replaced a 17th century church built on the same site, which had been damaged in a storm.

The church itself is built of the local granite, a single cell comprising nave and sanctuary, with a west porch beneath a simple bellcote. Flanking extensions were added to the porch in the 20th Century, making it wider than the church itself. Like the rest of the island, its churchyard walls overflow with banks of exotic flowers, a sign of the islands' mild climate. The east wall of the church contains a stone, said to be the socketed base of a mediaeval stone cross. 

Inside, the interior is plain and workmanlike, with a varnished wooden ceiling and matching pews. The west gallery is currently out of use, but there is a simple octagonal font and a vivid two-light stained glass East window by Kempe, depicting St Martin cutting his cloak for the beggar.

The church has a weekly Sunday service provided by visiting priests during the summer months, and a Friday service out of season. The church is open daily for visits and private prayer.

St Martin, Higher Town, St Martin's Isles of Scilly TR25 0QL

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