St Martin’s Church

St Martin’s is the parish church of East Horsley and the oldest building in the village, dating back to Norman times. 

St Martin’s Church is a Grade II* listed structure and formed of a Chancel, a Nave and a Tower on the western side. A Transept was added to the north side of the Chancel in the 1980’s together with a Vestry on the east side of the building. It displays some interesting internal features including the tomb of Thomas Cornwallis and his wife which dates back to Elizabethan times. Thomas Cornwallis was a member of the court of Queen Elizabeth I.

Over the years parts of the church have been modernised. Major rebuilding work was undertaken in the 1860s under the guidance of Lord Lovelace. The Chancel and part of the Nave were rebuilt at this time. Extensive repairs were undertaken to the Tower in the 1920s. A section of new stained-glass windows were also installed in 2024 as a Covid memorial, funded from public subscriptions.

Lord Lovelace also oversaw the building of the wall around the Churchyard. This incorporates a number of distinguishing features of the Lovelace style including the widespread use of flint and locally produced terracotta bricks. The graveyard wall is a Grade II listed structure, as is the Gazebo on the southwest corner of the wall which was restored in 1986.

Before Lord Lovelace died in 1893, he built a Mausoleum in the northeastern corner of the churchyard, his final resting place and that of his second wife. 

For further historical information see the church website at easthorsleychurch.org.uk