Church Of St Martin

The Church of St Martin is a Grade II* listed building located in Marple Bridge, built between 1869 and 1870 by architect J.D. Sedding for Maria Anne Hudson. The church features a north chapel added in 1895-1896 and an aisle completed in 1909, both designed by H. Wilson. It is constructed of snecked stone with ashlar dressings and has a clay tile roof, along with a timber-framed porch. The layout includes a nave, chancel, porch, aisle, and aisle chapel.

The nave consists of three bays with a projecting plinth, heavy weathered buttresses, and a gabled timber-framed porch at the first bay. The windows are of two lights featuring geometric tracery, with two paired in the second bay. The church has coped gables and a bellcote. The chancel is two bays long and has a five-light east window.

Inside, the nave arcade arches rest on bold square columns. The nave has a wagon roof, while the chancel features arch-braced trusses. The chapel apse is vaulted with reliefs of trees and birds. Notable interior elements include an inlaid altar table and communion rail designed by Wilson, a reredos by C. Whall, and a statue of St. Christopher set in a niche with a marble surround. The north windows were created by H. Bryams, the chancel windows by Morris, and other windows by C. Whall. There is also a plaster relief of angels by Sedding and an Art Nouveau font cover with a pierced metal sphere on an inlaid and carved lid. The exterior of the church is generally unpretentious, while the interior is remarkably progressive.