Ancient church dating back to the Iron Age basks in glorious sunshine

Heavenly view! Grade II listed church dating back to 12th Century basks in glorious sunshine in stunning scene captured by drone

• Oliver Dixon used his drone to take the glorious photos of St Martha’s Church in the Surrey Hills in the late-evening sunshine
• The snaps show the church perking up amid a beautiful countryside and the sun setting in the background 
• The church is a grade II historic building from the 12th century but was rebuilt to the design of Henry Woodyer
• The church featured briefly in the 1944 film A Canterbury Tale and the graveyard includes a memorial to actress and singer Yvonne Arnuad, who died in 1958

A stunning collection of photos were taken of St Martha’s Church in the picturesque Surrey Hills using a drone. 

Oliver Dixon’s drone took the glorious snaps of the ancient place of worship surrounded by the beautiful countryside landscape and with the sun setting in the background. 

The church, also known as St Martha-on-the-Hill, is a listed grade II historic building from the 12th century, and is 573ft above sea level in an area dating back to the Iron Age. 

It is placed on top of the hill on the North Downs Way National Trail and is the only church in Surrey which is on the Pilgrims’ Way. 

The church was rebuilt in 1848 and those associated with the landmark believe it was used to assist travellers or encourage pilgrimages to Canterbury or Winchester cathedrals. 

It also featured briefly in the 1944 film A Canterbury Tale and the graveyard includes a memorial to French-born actress and singer Yvonne Arnaud, whose ashes were scattered there upon her death in 1958. 

St Martha’s Church, on the North Downs Way National Trail in the Surrey Hills, basks in the late-evening sunshine with the beautiful countryside in the surrounding area

The photos, taken by a drone, show the listed grade II historic building from the 12th century shining bright in the stunning Surrey landscape

The church, which dates back to the Iron Age, stands at 573 feet above sea level and looks out on a wondrous Green Belt stretch of outstanding natural beauty 

However, a repeat of these fantastic snaps may be harder to come by for the rest of the week, with mixed weather forecast

The original church, built in the 1110s, fell into ruin six hundred years later and was rebuilt to the design of Henry Woodyer. 

He opted to incorporate many of the original architectural elements of the old church, including Norman arches to the main entrance. 

Woodyer also decided to include zig zag moulded lancet windows on the tower.    

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