Church of Saint Martin of Tours, Haverfordwest

Church of Saint Martin of Tours is the oldest church in Haverfordwest, a Pembrokeshire county town in west Wales. It stands close to the castle, and its octagonal stone steeple is one of the easiest landmarks to pick out when you look across the town.

How old is Saint Martin's Church?

The church was the first one built in Haverfordwest. Sources give a date of around 1120, which ties it to the construction of the castle and the founding of the town about ten years earlier. Its dedication to Saint Martin of Tours is typical of an early twelfth-century foundation. Some writers point to an even earlier start, so the exact start date remains open to debate.

What is the history of the building?

In the first half of the 13th century the church was given to the canons of the Augustinian priory of Saint Mary and Saint Thomas the Martyr in Haverfordwest. Robert FitzRichard, a member of the family that held the town, was the donor. The canons kept the church until the Reformation. When the priory was dissolved, its estates and the right to appoint the priest to Saint Martin's passed to the Crown under Henry VIII.

The medieval building grew in stages. The tower dates from the 14th century. Around 1400 the church was enlarged considerably, gaining a side aisle, a chapel and a porch. These additions gave the building much of the layout that visitors see now.

Why was the church restored?

By the early 19th century the church had fallen into serious disrepair and was described as almost entirely dilapidated. A major Victorian restoration followed in 1862-65, led by the architect C. E. Giles. The work saved the medieval church and shaped its present appearance.

Is the church protected?

Yes. Saint Martin's is a Grade II* listed building, a category reserved for particularly important buildings. The churchyard walls and gates are listed separately at Grade II. Cadw, the Welsh heritage body, regards them as an important part of the church's setting.

What can you see when you visit?

• The octagonal steeple, the church's best-known feature and a recognisable part of the Haverfordwest skyline.
• Medieval fabric from the 14th-century tower and the work of about 1400, including the aisle, chapel and porch.
• Victorian restoration by Giles, which sits alongside the older stonework.
• The churchyard and its listed walls and gates, which frame the building.

The church lies in the historic centre, so you can combine a visit with the castle and the old streets that grew up around it. It also appears on the Haverfordwest Civic Society's town trail, which is a good way to learn how the town developed.

Frequently asked questions

Where is the church? In the centre of Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, Wales, near the castle.

What is it known for? It is the town's oldest church and has a distinctive octagonal stone steeple.

When was it built? Around 1120 according to sources, with the tower added in the 14th century and a large extension around 1400.

Who restored it? C. E. Giles carried out the main restoration between 1862 and 1865.

Is it a listed building? Yes, it is Grade II* listed, and the churchyard walls and gates are Grade II.