Art, Architecture, and Arts and Craft Movement
Both the church and the parish house of St. Martin’s are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The parish house is a half-timbered structure that houses offices, classrooms, kitchen,and social spaces that includes our Great Hall. This two-story hall is the location for all-parish events and serves the needs of many neighborhood groups.
The church building, designed by Wallis E. Howe, is a granite structure constructed in early 20th century Gothic Revival style. Its tower contains a set of ten bells which parishioners play on special occasions.
In the interior of the Church, the nave (the central, open space of the church) is supported by oak truss work and lit by clerestory windows. The raised chancel (the area for clergy and choir) and sanctuary (worship space of a church/the area around the altar) lead to the high altar in front of a fine, carved oak reredos (ornamented screen) that surrounds a triptych (three paneled painting). The design is by Bertram Grosvenor Goodhue. The murals were painted by the celebrated painter Hildreth Meiere, a famous New York muralist whose work spans the Arts and Crafts and Art Deco periods. The reredos was the generous gift of Mrs. Howard P. Cornwell in memory of her husband, given in 1923. The central painting features the Adoration of the Magi, with the healing of Bartimaeus in the left-hand panel and Jesus’ charge to his disciples in the right-hand panel. The triptych is surrounded on all sides by a rich iconography of Christian saints, together with the emblems of Christ’s passion and the coats of arms of the diocese Tours, Canterbury, and Rhode Island. A reproduction of the reredos can be found in Catherine Coleman Brawer, and Kathleen Murphy Skolnik’s book: The Art Deco Murals of Hildreth Meiere.
The Windows
The Side Aisle Windows ~ The Clerestory Windows ~ The High Altar and Sanctuary
History
The Rev Lawrence Bradner on the early years.
St. Martin’s Church dates from March 3, 1885 when the first of a series of evening services was held on Waterman Street on the East Side of Providence. The corporation of Calvary Episcopal Church resulted from this modest beginning and was formed in 1897. Soon after, a wooden frame building was erected on Orchard Avenue. In 1912 Calvary Church merged with the Church of the Savior and the new united parish voted in 1916 to change its name to Saint Martin’s Church.
The need for a new and larger church building and parish house led to construction of the present stone edifice in 1917. Dr. Arthur L. Washburn then became the first Rector of our parish and served until 1929. The parish grew to more than 500 communicants by 1925. Over the next decades, Saint Martin’s enjoyed a succession of excellent, energetic rectors. The Rev. Russell S. Hubbard went on to become Suffragan Bishop of Western Michigan, and subsequently Bishop of Spokane. The Rev. John Seville Higgins served as Rector from 1948 until 1953, when he became Bishop Coadjutor of the Diocese of Rhode Island.
In 1942, The Rev. John Butler, who went from being rector of St. Martin’s to a number of prestigious positions and involvement both nationally and internationally, wrote about his first visit with St. Martin’s Vestry: “I found them to be a splendid, well-knit group of faithful laymen.” Lay leadership in the parish was vigorous and remains so today, even though the first few decades in the early 20th century saw only two women on the vestry.
There is also a venerable tradition of music in the parish, centered around the magnificent Reuter pipe organ, which was installed in 1955. Choirs have long filled the sanctuary with sacred song, supporting our worship with anthems and hymns in the rich tradition of Anglican choral music. Presently, the church has a volunteer adult choir open to all and a professional vocal consort; guest musicians from some of the region’s finest ensembles regularly enhance the worship experience.
The Rev. Halsey De Wolf Howe served as rector from 1964 to 1973 appointed the Rev. Howard Blunt as the first African-American Curate to serve St Martin’s. The Rev. Robert Burch served as Rector from 1973-1977. From 1978 until 1996, the Rev. J. Daniel Burke, former college chaplain and a caring preacher and pastor, served St. Martin’s as Rector. The physical plant was substantially refurbished during his tenure. Also, as women became ordained to the priesthood, several of them served as assistant clergy over the years. The Rev. Ann S. Coburn and her husband the Rev Michael Coburn served for a period as joint Rectors. Ann Coburn was also the first woman Rector and served the parish with distinction until 2003. The Rev. David A. Ames served as Priest-in-Charge until a new rector was called in May, 2005.
The Rev. Clare Fischer-Davies was appointed in July, 2005, serving as the 8th Rector until 2013. The Rev. Bill Locke served as Interim Rector from 2013 – 2014. Bill had the distinction of being one of a number of men and women who discerned a call to priesthood, during the Fr. Burke’s tenure.
The present Rector is the Rev. Mark R. Sutherland. He arrived on Trinity Sunday 2014 and was installed by Bishop W. Nicholas Knisely, on November 16th of the same year as the 12 Rector.
St. Martin of Tours
Martin was born in what is now Hungary in 316 AD, son of an officer in the Roman army. As the years passed, Martin felt increasingly uneasy in the tension between his duties as a soldier and his Christian calling. He eventually decided that his life in Christ was incompatible with his military service. Martin resigned his commission and is the most famous early prototype of conscientious objections. A famous incident defines Martin and took place near Amiens. On seeing a naked beggar at the city gate, Martin divided his cloak in half and gave half his cloak to a beggar in whom he saw Christ. It seems that Roman soldiers only ever owned half their cloaks, so legally, Martin had only half to give away. He then had a dream in which Christ appeared, wearing the cloak. The Cloak of St Martin was preserved by the French Kings, Martin by this time being the Patron of France. It travelled with the court, under the supervision of a priest who was known as the Chaplain, a term derived from cappa – the Latin for cloak.
After leaving his military service, Martin became a disciple of Saint Hilary at Poitiers and was baptized. From 360 onwards, Martin devoted himself to monastic life. His houses were first at Liguge near Poitiers and after 372, when he was chosen Bishop of Tours by popular acclaim at Marmoutier, which became a thriving monastery. Martin had a major influence on Western monasticism, particularly on St. Columba, missionary to the Irish and St Ninian, missionary to the Scots. The oldest church in Canterbury bears his name.
In an age when Christianity was largely confined to towns, Martin saw monasteries as a way of promoting rural evangelism based upon spiritual centers. He himself was a most assiduous Bishop, carrying out frequent visitations and defending doctrine.
One of the symbols associated with St. Martin is the Goose. Legend has it that Martin did not want to be made Bishop of Tours, so he hid out in some farm buildings. When church officials came looking for him the geese put up a great racket and exposed his hiding place. St. Martin’s Church has taken on the goose as a mascot and occasional spokesperson.
Martin’s followers panicked when he told them he knew he was near death, but the Saint entrusted himself to the Lord’s will in the words: “Lord, if your people still need me I do not refuse the work; let your will be done”. He died on November 8th, 397.
The St Martin Window
The Rev Lawrence Bradner in conversation the following history was written by Fr. Larry Bradner in answer to questions about the window’s origins during its current full 2015 restoration