Parish News

For your Prayers

Special Peal of Bells at the Thanksgiving Service on 28 April  

As part of the celebrations, the St Martin's bellringers rang a peal of 5042 changes of Cambridge Surprise Maximus in 3 hours and 33 minutes.  Earlier that day, the Swan Bells in Perth, Australia - including 12 bells from St Martin’s dating from before the 14th century - also rang a quarter peal of Stedman Cinques in celebration as part of the Australia and New Zealand Association of Bellringers Annual Festival.

Update on building work

Work continues both inside and outside the church and crypt as part of our renewal project, and we thank everyone for their patience during this time. It is hoped that work on the lift in the NW porch (giving access to the crypt), and removal of scaffolding around the portico will be completed shortly.  The new hall and meeting rooms, plus the entrance foyer and the new Dick Sheppard Chapel are part of the next phase of the renewal due for completion in the Spring. Within the church, installation of the new East window designed by the Iranian artist, Shirazeh Houshiary, is now complete.    

'A Room with A View'

Revd Nicholas Holtam’s essays about ministry with the world at our door, published by SPCK, is available in the Shop in the Crypt. 

Sundays at 6.30pm/In Every Place - A reflective service of journeying    

Our series of Sunday evening liturgies lead us reflectively through this season of change and turning using words, music, symbol and silence. Regulars and visitors are very welcome at these services – just drop in for one evening or come each week.

Wednesdays 1.15pm-1.45pm/Lunch-Break : Praying with the Scriptures during the working day 

The new pattern of midweek services includes an opportunity to explore and reflect on the meaning of the word in the middle of the day.

Lay Chaplains and Clergy in Church

On Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 4.30-5.30pm, a member of the clergy team is available, either in church or immediately contactable by phone in the office, to meet with those who wish to see a priest.  The lay chaplains, who are skilled in listening from a specifically spiritual perspective, will continue to be available in church on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays between 10.30am and 12 noon.  Therefore the normal weekday availability is: 

Monday 10.30am - 12 noon          Lay Chaplain
Tuesday 4.30pm - 5.30pm            Member of Clergy
Wednesday 10.30am - 12 noon     Lay Chaplain
Thursday 4.30pm - 5.30pm           Member of Clergy
Friday 10.30am - 12 noon             Lay Chaplain

Parish Pipeline 

Equipping our new spaces

As the Building Renewal Project progressed towards its final and very exciting stages, we are in the process of planning and purchasing all the items we need to make these new spaces welcoming and adaptable for the needs of our diverse community and our visitors. We need to purchase a selection of items small and large, and we are looking for help in providing funds to do this. The Friends of St-Martin-in-the-Fields have generously agreed to make a large donation towards these costs but we are also hoping that individuals will wish to make a contribution. A leaflet explaining how you can help with this is available.

Archaeological Find   

Amongst the items found by the Museum of London Archaeological Service during their work at St Martin's is a Roman limestone sarcophagus containing a human skeleton. The burial has now been dated as late 4th or 5th century AD and is one of only a few such burials found in the UK in modern times. The find is of great significance as it points to the possibility of this being a sacred site for much earlier than previously thought and also provides important information on the history of Roman London.  

Parish Office

The Parish Office is open Monday to Friday from 9.30am to 5pm.  The telephone number for the office is 020 7766 1100 and the email address is: clergyoffice@smitf.org

Friends of St Martin-in-the-Fields

If you live abroad or out of London and would like to keep in touch with us and our work, why not join the Friends of St Martin-in-the-Fields?  Just send your details to:  Friends Subscription Secretary, 6 St Martin’s Place, London WC2N 4JJ. 

Prayer and Fasting for the Renewal of St Martin's

For some time now, the first Wednesday in each month has been set aside as a day of prayer and fasting to focus on the needs and concerns of our building project.  The clergy have made a commitment to fasting on that day and it is a great encouragement when others are part of that commitment.  Fasting can mean anything from 24 hours without food to missing a meal to giving up a slice of time during that day to pray for the project.  The coming months will be an exciting time for the project.  We continue to face big challenges in fund-raising, in planning and preparing for the major changes to our regular life of work, prayer and worship as we move towards the next phases of the project involving work on the North Range and in the decision-making process for future stages, including work on the church building.  Please continue to hold all these things in your prayers as we seek to be community and a place renewed for God's work in the 21st century.