HISTORIC CHURCH

Evening Star, Issue 26138, 27 June 1947, Page 9

HISTORIC CHURCH

ST. MARTIM S-IH-THE-FIELDS

Although the first Church of St. Mar-tin’s-in-the-Fields had been named bemuse it really was in the fields, London has grown so much through the years that the Church is now in the heart of the city. Fortunately the church was not harmed by the blitz, although the windows had to be removed, reports the Rev. Martin Sullivan, chaplain to the Student Christian Movement, who worked in the parish of St. Martin's for five months, Mr Sullivan pays high tribute to the late Rev. H. R. L, Sheppard, who, after being appointed to St. Martin’s, had gone to take a look at

the church of which lie was to take charge, and found only a handful of people at the service. Mr Sheppard had left the church sad and depressed to think out his plan for St. Martin’s. But now this wonderful old church, which had been so nearly empty, has its- full congregation of about 2,000. with an overflow of 800 or 900 in the crypt. Mr Sheppard refused to ljave a choir, and the church soon became noted for its magnificent congregational singing. In response to a radio appeal of four minutes, the Rev. Sheppard on one oc-

casion received as much as £15,000 for .Christmas cheer. Part of this was used during the year for relief among the needy of the parish. The late Rev. Sheppard’s wonderful work for the flotsam and jetsam of the city, who before the war were housed at night in St. Martin’s crypt, is worthy of special record.