St Martin's Church, Walsall facts for kids

Quick facts for kids St Martin’s Church, Walsall
Parish Church of St Martin
St Martin’s Church, Walsall
Location	Walsall
Country	England
Denomination	Church of England
Churchmanship	Open Evangelical
Website	www.stmartinswalsall.co.uk
History
Dedication	St Martin of Tours
Consecrated	22 October 1960
Architecture
Completed	1960
Administration
Parish	Walsall Saint Martin
Deanery	Walsall
Archdeaconry	Walsall
Episcopal area	Wolverhampton
Diocese	Lichfield
Province	Canterbury

St Martin's Church is a special place located in Walsall, a town in the West Midlands, England. You can find it at the corner of Sutton Road and Daffodil Road. It is an Anglican church, which means it is part of the Church of England. The church is named after Saint Martin of Tours, a famous saint. St Martin's Church serves the people living in three big neighborhoods in Walsall: Orchard Hills, Brookhouse, and Park Hall Estates.

The Story of St Martin's Church

How the Church Started

St Martin's Church began as a new project from St Matthew's Church in Walsall. It was like a new branch growing from an older tree. Reverend Vernon Nicholls, who was the Vicar of St Matthew's, led this effort. He later became a bishop. Before the church building was ready, people gathered for worship in a local pub called the Red House. Today, that pub is known as the Longhorn.

The Land and Its Past

The church building stands on land that used to belong to a family named Stanley. Their home was once on this very spot. Interestingly, the Stanley family home was accidentally knocked down instead of an old pub called the Three Crowns, which was further up Sutton Road. The two tall yew trees you see at the front of the church used to be part of the Stanley family's garden.

Building and Opening the Church

The church building has a unique "A frame" shape, which means it looks like the letter A. It was officially opened and blessed on October 22, 1960. The Bishop of Lichfield, Arthur Streetton Reeve, led the special ceremony. Inside, there is a large and beautiful carving of Jesus with children, created by an artist named Raymond Forbes Kings.

Becoming Independent

For many years, St Martin's was a "daughter church" to St Matthew's. This meant that the ministers at St Martin's were curates, or assistants, from St Matthew's. But in 1975, St Martin's was allowed to have its own main minister. By September 1977, it became a "district church," which meant it could manage its own activities. A new house was even built nearby for the minister to live in.

In 1987, St Martin's joined with St Matthew's and St Luke's to form a "Team Ministry." This was a way for the churches to work together. However, in 2011, the Team Ministry ended. St Martin's then became a fully independent parish, responsible for itself. The church follows an "Open Evangelical" style of worship, which means it focuses on the Bible and sharing faith in an open and welcoming way.

Who Leads St Martin's Church?

Many different clergy members have served at St Martin's Church over the years. They have helped lead services, teach, and support the community.

Past Leaders

• Curates: These are ministers who assist the main vicar.
  • Charles Lovell (1960–1963)
  • Arthur Mawson (1963–1966)
  • Colin Fuller (1966–1967)
  • Donald Felix (1967–1968)
  • Geoffrey Holden (1968–1971)
  • Philip Hills (1971–1972)
  • Colin Sneyd (1972–1975)
  • Keith Wyer (1976–1977)

• Resident Ministers: These were the main ministers when St Martin's became more independent.
  • Keith Wyer (1977–1979)
  • Richard Sutton (1979–1983)
  • John Sharpe (1983–1987)

• Team Vicars: These ministers were part of the Team Ministry.
  • John Sharpe (1987–1996)
  • Peter Hart (1997–2003)
  • Simon Bickersteth (2005–2011)

Current Leaders

• Vicars: These are the main leaders of the church.
  • Simon Bickersteth (2011–2016)
  • Jenny Mayo (2017 – present)

• Non-Stipendiary Curates: These are curates who volunteer their time without being paid a salary.
  • Phill Ball (2009–2016)