St. Martin-in-the-Fields

History - Building and People

Although a relatively short history St Martin-In-The-Fields has an interesting story to tell in both the buildings and the people associated with the church.

This page has been built with links so you can scan forward to the part you might be interested. The subjects are as follows:-

If you wish to read about St. Martin of Tours click here.

Potted Building History

Vicars of St. Martin's

Assistant Curates

Auxiliaries

Church Wardens

More Detailed History

In The Beginning  

The new Parish of St. Martin-in-the Fields, Finham was proclaimed in the London Gazette on the 8 th November, but long before that, the area now known as Finham was largely green fields and those living in the Green Lane area worshipped at St. James Church Styvechale. 

The purchase of the Kempas Hall by the Diocesan Trustees in 1930 made it possible for local worship and by 1931 the hall, renamed Styvechale Church Hall, had a flourishing Sunday School and a well attended Evensong every week. 

In January 1935, The Rev Leonard Griffiths, a newly appointed vicar of Styvechale, became the first priest to live in the area at 27, Wainbody Avenue and his PCC later purchased 104, Woodside Avenue for use as a vicarage. 

It was by this time realized that a new church was needed for the rapidly expanding area and at the time the then Bishop of Coventry launched an appeal for several new churches around Coventry. 

The enthusiasm of the new vicar was infectious and the project for a new church gained momentum. 

The Vicar with the enthusiasm of youth, sometimes took decisions without his PCC, and having visited a church at the Swanwick Conference Centre, considered that a similar type building would be ideal for Green Lane. He commissioned the Assistant Surveyor at Westminster Abbey to submit a design based on the Swanwick Church but with a North Aisle. 

Overcoming Obstacles 

The support of the PCC was easily gained but unfortunately the Bishop's appeal committee had already issued instructions that for economy reasons all designs for new Churches should confirm to a design by a single Architect appointed by themselves. 

This created an impasse but in the end the Bishop was so impressed by the design and the Vicar's enthusiasm (and his persistence) that he persuaded the appeal committee to make an exception and allow the 'Wayward Vicar' and his PCC to proceed. 

The possible site for the new Church had been in Beanfield Avenue but with the growth in the South of the area it was thought that a site in Green Lane would provide a better strategic position. The land in Beanfield Avenue was therefore sold and a site in Green Lane purchased. 

Whilst the legalities proceeded, the PCC selected seven possible names for the new Church and Parishioners were given the opportunity to vote on a ballot form in the Parish Magazine. An overwhelming majority voted for St. Martin-In-The-Fields, appropriate for the site, but no doubt heavily influenced by the very popular weekly broadcast from a Church with the same name in London. 

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Building Commences  

With the site cleared, a local builder E. Harris and Son was appointed, work commenced and the Foundation Stone was laid and dedicated by the Bishop of Coventry on 23 rd June 1938.

By the time the Church was ready for occupation, the Rev. Leonard Griffiths had resigned the living of Styvechale to become the first Vicar of St. Martins.

The Church was consecrated on 11 th November 1938 - St. Martins Patronal Festival - and Leonard Griffiths was inducted as Vicar at the same service. 

The Vicar's period of office lasted less than a year, for with the outbreak of War in 1939. He was called up as a Naval Chaplin. 

St. Martin's have had eight Vicars since the opening of the Church, list is provided at the end: 

Design of the Church 

Based on Sussex barn type church. 

The stuccoed walls are built into an oak framework, bricks being visible up to windowsill height. Behind the main Alter is a window of a width of four frames. Similar windows occupy positions at the West End. 

On the South side, the windows are of irregular widths, the Choir and Nave windows being surmounted by Dormer Windows which add light to the interior and attractiveness to the exterior of the Church. 

On the North side, the window widths are again irregular with just one dormer window, not visible from the body of the Church, its purpose being to provide light for a corridor and stairs to the upper Vestry. 

The pitched roof of two equal spans is covered in hand made clay tiles and is supported by open timber trusses. 

The bell turret houses one bell weighing 2540 Kilos (50 cwt ). 

The pleasing and attractive appearance of the Church depends on a number of small features. 

The floor is on three levels, there being a step to the Choir and another to the Sanctuary. The flooring throughout is of teak blocks, originally covering an area for 316 seats, but this was subsequently reduced to 184 by the provision of   the Side Altar and an increase in legroom. 

As a matter of interest, the chairs, a prayer book and a hassock for each seat in the original plan were bought and paid for by a 50 pence (10/-) subscription from the worshipers of the time, prior to the consecration. 

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The Early Years

The war years created problems for everyone and with many members being bereaved by air raids and in combat, the second incumbent the Rev. F.S. Herbert spent much of his time comforting and caring for his Parishioners.

With no known graves for some loved ones, several flowering cherry trees were planted in the Church grounds as memorials.

Mounting expenses and smaller congregations made life difficult but by 1944 all outstanding debts on the Church had been cleared. 

Site Development

Even before the Church was built, it was realized that there would be serious inconveniences and possible danger in having the Church and Hall separated by the A45 By-pass, with the vicarage some distance from both.

The PCC always intended that ultimately all buildings would be on one site.

The war years and for some considerable time afterwards, it was just a dream but in 1955 a decision was made to sell Kempas Hall and prepare plans for a new hall on the Church site.

The following year plans for a new Vicarage were prepared - then the shock!!

The Bishop back in 1938 had consecrated all the land surrounding the Church and before anything could be done a faculty had to be raised thus creating a delay.

A temporary solution to the vicarage problem came with the selling of 104, Woodside Avenue in 1960 and the purchase of 107, Green Lane at the junction of the Kempas Highway. The following year, legal obstacles were overcome and a new hall was built and opened by Bishop Cuthbert Bardsley in 1963.

In 1964 the vicarage was built and the house at 107, Green Lane sold.

The Kempas Hall was sold in 1965.

In 1966 the Narthex and covered way between the Church and hall constructed. This necessitated the original Porch and two memorial trees being removed, a very sad moment for many Parishioners.

At last everything on one site, 26 years of planning brought to fruiti0on.

The growing need for further accommodation to cater for the many organisations using the hall resulted in the building of a smaller hall, the Fellowship room, opened in 1984, thus completing the present site complex.

People at St. Martin's

St. Martin's has been through much change and development during its 62 year history because there has been a lively congregation here. A beautiful and much loved church building is important, but even more important are the people who belong to the church. 

First and foremost we belong to God - we are His People - and we seek to faithfully serve Him through our worship Sunday by Sunday, and through the many ways in which we   grow in love for God and for each other. It is our privilege to be able to provide meeting places for many local community groups - and we see this as part of our service to our parish.

But so much of the work of the church goes on quietly week by week and as we try to be good neighbours, and meet and support people at important moments in their lives - at christenings, at weddings, in sickness, at funerals.