Around the Church

St Martin's Church

The history of St Martin's Parish church begins in the thirteenth century when a

christian community was established at St Nicholas church Laindon, throughout the

centuries christians in that area worshipped there.

Related external Weblink: http://www.basildon.com/history/churches/smot.html

With the event of the new town of Basildon the congregation under the leadership of the

then Rector, the Revd. William Winfield organised the building of a new church in the

centre of the town. On 27th February 1960 land on which the church is built was

conveyed to the church Commissioners and the Rector of Basildon, and building

work commenced. On Saturday 15th October 1960 the foundation stone was laid by

Humphrey Gale, Chaiman of Basildon Development Corporation.

Two years later on 10th November 1962 the church was consecrated by the

Bishop of Chelmsford Rt. Rev. John Gerhard Tiatks under the patronage of St Martin of Tours.

A freestanding Bell Tower designed by Douglas Galloway RIBO and built in 1999 was opened by Her Majesty the Queen and dedicated by The Rt. Revd. John Perry The Lord Bishop of Chelmsford on Friday 12th March 1999.

Women have played a notable part in St Martin's, The church was designed by Mrs Trena .M. Cotton R.I.B.A., the Tenor bell now in the bell tower was cast in 1441 by Joanna Hille (the first bell in the world to have been cast by a woman) and the first female Rector at St Martin's was the Reverend Esther McCafferty.

Rectors;

Rev. William Arthur Winfield (1962-1965)

Rev. Arthur John Dunlop (1965-1971)

Rev. Peter Stuart Grimwood (1972-1976)

Rev. Canon Lionel Frank Webber (1976- 2001)

Rev. Esther Elaine McCafferty (2002- 2018)

Rev. Timothy J G Brampton 2019