St. Martin’s History

St. Martin's was founded in 1887 as a mission to the English mill workers in the South End of New Bedford.  The first services were held in Olivet Chapel.  The current church building was designed by Architect Henry Vaughn, and was dedicated in 1892.

Over the years, St. Martin’s has been deeply involved in the lives of the people in the South End.  The clergy and people have advocated on behalf of the labor movement, democratic social reform, and fair wages for working men and women.

The people of St. Martin’s have always been ecumenically minded, striving to build relationships among the various Christian churches for the furthering of God’s kingdom and the improvement of the lives of the people of New Bedford.

Today, St. Martin’s parishioners come from a wide variety of backgrounds, and its people continue to strive to reach out with the love of Christ to the neighborhood surrounding the church.

We invite you to become part of our history and walk with us as we continue to strive for justice and peace in our homes, our community and our world. 

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