Herne Bay - Church of St Martin

The parish church of St Martin is 13th century and altered and extended in the 14th century. In 1538 Nicholas Ridley was appointed vicar and he caused the Te Deum to be sung in English here, the first time this was ever done in England and aroused fury of the Church authorities. It was of this church and parish that he said ‘Farewell Herne, thou worshipful and wealthy parish’ when he was burnt at the stake in Oxford.