St Martin's History

Martin was born around 330 of pagan parents. His father was a soldier who enlisted Martin in the army at the age of fifteen. Legend has it that one winter's day he saw an ill-clad beggar at the gate of the city of Amiens. Martin had no money to give, but he cut his cloak in half and gave half to the beggar.

In a dream that night, Martin saw Christ wearing the half-cloak. He had for some time considered becoming a Christian, and this ended his wavering. He was promptly baptized. At the end of his next military campaign, he asked to be released from the army, saying: "Hitherto I have faithfully served Caesar. Let me now serve Christ." He was accused of cowardice and offered to stand unarmed between the contending armies. He was imprisoned but released when peace was signed.

He became a disciple of Hilary of Poitiers, a chief opponent in the West of the Arians, who denied the full deity of Christ, and who had the favour of the emperor Constantius. Returning to his parents' home in Illyricum (along the Dalmatian coast), he opposed the Arians with such effectiveness that he was publicly scourged and exiled. He was subsequently driven from Milan, and eventually returned to Gaul. There he founded the first monastery in Gaul, which lasted until the French Revolution.

In 371 he was elected bishop of Tours. His was a mainly pagan diocese, but his instruction and personal manner of life prevailed. In one instance, the pagan priests agreed to fell their idol, a large fir tree, if Martin would stand directly in the path of its fall. He did so and it missed him very narrowly. When an officer of the Imperial Guard arrived with a batch of prisoners who were to be tortured and executed the next day, Martin intervened and secured their release.

In the year 384, the heretic (Gnostic) Priscillian and six companions had been condemned to death by the emperor Maximus. The bishops who had found them guilty in the ecclesiastical court pressed for their execution. Martin contended that the secular power had no authority to punish heresy, and that the excommunication by the bishops was an adequate sentence. In this he was upheld by Ambrose, Bishop of Milan. He refused to leave Treves until the emperor promised to reprieve them. No sooner was his back turned than the bishops persuaded the emperor to break his promise; Priscillian and his followers were executed. This was the first time that heresy was punished by death. Martin was furious, and excommunicated the bishops responsible. But afterwards, he took them back into communion in exchange for a pardon from Maximus for certain men condemned to death, and for the emperor's promise to end the persecution of the remaining Priscillianists. He never felt easy in his mind about this concession, and thereafter avoided assemblies of bishops where he might encounter some of those concerned in this affair. He died on or about 11 November 397 ( sources differ) and his shrine at Tours became a sanctuary for those seeking justice.

The Feast of Martin, a soldier who fought bravely and faithfully in the service of an earthly sovereign, and then enlisted in the service of Christ, is also the day of the Armistice which marked the end of the First World War. On it we remember those who have risked or lost their lives in what they perceived as the pursuit of justice and peace.

Kensington came into existence in the South Perth Road District in the 1920s and was named after "Kensington Park" racecourse which was situated near the Coode Street Jetty. This course was established in the 1890's as the South Perth Racecourse, but was later changed to Kensington, after the landowner Clydesdale's Suburban Road (Mill Point Road) house, 'Kensington'. It is most likely that the name Kensington was adopted from that of the prestigious London suburb. One of the prime movers behind the establishment of an Anglican Church in Kensington was Margaret Durbridge. After her death in 1925 her estate was bequeathed to provide finances for church activities in the Kensington area. Her estate (in Arlington Avenue, South Perth) was subdivided into eight residential lots. This helped to pay for the land on the corner of Dyson and Vista Streets. Plans for the new church hall were prepared by People's Warden, C Hill, and the building was made possible by an interest free loan of ₤750. Although the area had been designated as “brick only” by the Road Board, Durbridge Hall, was constructed from weatherboard. On 4 May 1933, in the presence of 150 people the Archbishop dedicated the new building to be named Durbridge Hall after its benefactor.

Social activities were initiated at Durbridge Hall after its completion under the ministry of Lionel Courtney. The groups that used the church included the Mothers’ Union, Ladies’ Guild, Men’s Club, Sunday School, Sewing Class and, Church of England Boys’ and Girls’ Societies (CEBS and CEGS). In order to raise money for a church, Durbridge Hall was also let out regularly to Girl Guides, Scouts, Sea Scouts and Rifle Club, Boy Scouts, Brownies and the South Perth branch of the Australian Labour Party. Durbridge Hall was also used for showing movies. (The hole in the wall for the projector can still be seen).

At the end of World War Two the Durbridge Hall committee was able to announce that the hall debt had been paid off and launched a new appeal to build a new church as a memorial to all who lost their lives in the war and consequently St Martin-in-the-Fields Church was built in 1953. The name came from the London church built in 1721-1726 and a memento mounted in the St Martin-in-the-Fields Church, Kensington, is made from the original Portland stone used when St Martin-in-the-Fields in England was built. The Church had been damaged in World War Two and the stone was salvaged when repairs were carried out in 1952. The metal plaque on the altar is a replica of the design on the original door handles of the church.

When the loan for the building of St Martin-in-the-Fields Church was totally repaid the church was able to be consecrated. The Consecration ceremony was held on 21 May 1954 and also marked the raising of four flags donated by the Imperial War Museum at the request of Rev Precious. Four flags, The White Ensign, The Red Ensign, The Union Jack and a Royal Air Force Flag had all been flown on the Cenotaph, Whitehall in London. They were to remain at St Martin's in memory of the men and women who died in the world wars. The flags have since been returned to the Imperial War Museum.

After the completion of the St Martin-in-the-Fields Church in 1953 the hall continued to be used for community outreach activities. Rev Bob Precious (1953-57), the Rector at the time, initiated an Anglican Youth Fellowship to cater for the needs of the young people in the area. Rev Precious is remembered in the parish for his enthusiastic and successful work in the community. Under Rev Precious the St Martin's Players Drama Group was formed in 1955. This group provided entertainment for the community at regular intervals often coinciding with religious festivals. The group continued up until 1994 performing in the fashion of Old Time Music Halls. The two buildings were connected in the 1990s by an addition to enclose the outdoor toilets and to include kitchen amenities.

In 1956 a church opportunity shop was established in the corner shop behind the church. Purchased for ₤4,250 the Op Shop proceeds went into meeting mortgage commitments.

Before 1995, the Church had ornate altar rails that divided the altar from the main body of the church but these were removed to reflect changing attitudes in the church and to allow the church to be rearranged for different types of services.

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