Saint Martin

except the 4th Sunday of July

first Saturday of the month

On the edge of the Natural Regional Park of the Headlands and Marshlands of the Opal coast, between the Port of Calais and the Hills of Flanders, the village of Autingues is on the Via Francigena the pilgrimage way between Canterbury and Rome. It is this area, near Guînes (an English locality) and Ardres (a French locality) which is famous for being the site of the meeting between François 1er King of France, and Henry VIII, King of England, in 1520, at the Camp of the Field of Golden Cloth.

The church of Autingues has two patron saints : the original is Saint Martin, and Saint Louis  was added during the 17th century when the nearby hospital for the poor, dedicated to him, was closed. The actual church, of local limestone blocks was built in the 18th century as the date of 1742 clearly states on the steeple.

Within the church, the sanctuary has a beautiful main altar and stained glass windows (19th century) showing Saint Martin and Saint Eulalie. There are also two admirable statues in elm wood of Saint Martin, and Saint Louis who is dressed for his coronation in a cloak lined with ermine and wearing his crown.