St. Martin’s Church is the parish church of North Nibley, Gloucestershire, and takes its dedication from St. Martin of Tours, the 4th-century soldier-turned-bishop revered for his compassion and service. His emblems — the goose, the bishop’s mitre and staff, and the horse — each reflect aspects of his life and legend, yet his most famous symbol remains the scene of him on horseback cutting his cloak in two to share with a beggar, a lasting emblem of mercy and generosity.
The earliest parts of the current building date back to the 13th century, with significant additions and alterations made over the following centuries. The tower is believed to have been built in the 15th century, and the church underwent Victorian restoration in the 19th century, a common practice across England at the time.
The church is constructed primarily from local stone, in the Perpendicular Gothic style, which was typical for the region and period. Inside, it contains features such as stained glass windows, carved wooden pews, and a stone font, some of which date from the 19th-century restorations.
St. Martin’s remains an active place of worship within the Church of England and is part of the Diocese of Gloucester. It continues to host regular services, weddings, funerals, and community events, serving as both a religious and social centre for the village.
The churchyard contains several historic gravestones and is maintained as a peaceful green space around the church.
The Last Private Battle: The Battle of Nibley Green 1470
The Battle of Nibley Green, fought on March 20th, 1470, holds a unique place in English history as the last pitched battle between the private armies of two noblemen. This conflict stemmed from a centuries-old dispute between the Berkeley and Lisle families over land ownership and inheritance, a quarrel that had been fought in court and by force for generations.
On the morning of the battle, Lord Lisle led his army of 300 men from Wotton-under-Edge to Shankley Hill, near St. Martin’s Church. However, rather than securing the high ground, he descended to the Green, unknowingly walking into a trap. Lord Berkeley, his brothers, and 1,000 men approached from the woodlands of Michaelwood Chase, outnumbering Lisle’s forces more than expected. Lord Lisle was struck down early in the battle, leaving his troops heavily outnumbered and without leadership.
After his victory, Lord Berkeley regained control of Wotton-under-Edge and the other contested manors. However, Lisle’s widow later sued him for the murder of her husband. The feud between the families continued in the courts for nearly two centuries, finally concluding in 1609, 192 years after it had begun.
Descriptions of the battle and how it developed are limited, but accounts by John Smyth and notes by John Leland allow us to reconstruct this piece of English History.
William Tyndale c1490 – 1536
Translator of the Bible into English.
The exact location of William Tyndale’s birth is uncertain, though it is believed to have been in North Nibley, Stinchcombe, or Slimbridge. After studying at Oxford and Cambridge, he returned to Gloucestershire as a young priest, fluent in Greek and deeply engaged with the debates of the early Protestant Reformation, particularly the belief that the Bible should be translated into the language of the common people. Tyndale held that everyone, even “a boy that driveth a plough,” should be able to read the scriptures.
His determination to publish his translation made him a fugitive from church authorities. In 1526, his English translation of the New Testament, translated directly from Greek, was printed in a German town and secretly smuggled into England, hidden in bales of cloth. Many copies were seized and destroyed.
Tyndale went on to translate the first five books of the Old Testament from Hebrew, which were published in 1530. In 1534, he issued a revised edition of his New Testament, incorporating insights from the Hebrew sources behind the Greek text. His life came to a tragic end in 1536: betrayed by an English spy the previous year, Tyndale was executed on October 6th, strangled and then burned at the stake as a heretic.
The monument that now towers over the village was designed by S. S. Teulon and completed in 1866 in honour of William Tyndale’s work.
Family History
We are always keen to help those wishing to research their history.
The local historical group has collated various records, and there is a downloadable list of graves with a location plan. A copy is available in the church.
They have digitised the list of:
Baptisms at St Martin’s from 1567 until 1866
Burials from 1567 until 1897
Marriages from 1567 until 1837
For specific help, please contact admin@northnibleychurch.uk