The Old Church of St. Martin, Martindale.

This church, probably built at the end of the 16th Century, stands at the end of the Howegrain Valley on the site of a considerably older church referred to in a De Lancaster Charter of 1220. In the churchyard there is a yew tree estimated to be at least 1400 years old. In 1714 the earth floor was flagged and, when the new Martindale church of St Peter (about ½ a mile away) was consecrated on 6th January 1882, the roof fell in and had to be restored. At the same time the old box pews were removed and the singers' and musicians' gallery were taken down and the window frames replaced.

The church is open at all times to passers by, mainly walkers. There is a notice in the porch stating that all of value has already been stolen. There are on sale a nicely produced printed A4 sheet explaining features of both Martindale churches and couple of postcards - an honesty box is built into the wall.

In the mostly bare church there is a reading desk dating back to 1634 and a Roman font, probably from a wayside shrine at 'High Street' at the top of the fells behind the church. In the open cote built on the roof hangs a 500 year-old bell. In the churchyard there
is a tomb to the first 'Vicar' of Martindale after the Dissolution of the Monasteries:-