The Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu is to visit St. Martin’s Church, Scarborough, to celebrate its 150th anniversary – 150 years after one of his predecessors opened the church.
On July 11th 1863 the then Archbishop of York, William Thomson, consecrated the newly completed St. Martin’s Church in Scarborough. On July 14th 2013 the present Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu will preach at the 150th Anniversary Service of Thanksgiving.
The Revd David Dixon, Vicar of St Martin’s said, “We are looking forward to welcoming Archbishop Sentamu to St Martin’s, and delighted he will be able to celebrate our 150th anniversary with us. When Archbishop Thomson consecrated St Martin’s in 1863, the then vicar, the Revd Robert Henning Parr, had moved to the post after having been the Archbishop’s chaplain. My family and I have really settled in the parish of St Martin’s, so the current Archbishop’s chaplain had better not get any ideas!”
The Archbishop of York said, “St Martin’s Church has been at the heart of its community for the last 150 years as a witness to the love of God in Jesus Christ. It was built in response to the rapid urban expansion of the 1850s, and it continues to reach out and serve the people of Scarborough today. It will be fantastic to be part of the celebrations of all that God has done at St Martin’s in the last 150 years as I join with the Mayor of Scarborough, previous vicars of the parish, headteachers from the local schools, and friends from other Scarborough churches. God is still very much at work here – so here’s to the next 150 Years!”
Cathy Cook, Churchwarden, said, “This service is one of many events being held to celebrate St Martin’s 150th anniversary. On Friday 19th July there will be a concert by the Cologne Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra, and the North York Moors Chamber Music Festival Concert on Friday 16th August. There will be a special evening guided tour of the church on Wednesday 4th September at 7pm, and a Victorian Ghost stories day and the Annual Pets service on 6th October. Everyone is welcome to come and celebrate with us!”
St Martin’s was built due to the generosity of a local South Cliff resident, Miss Mary Craven, who saw the new church as a memorial to her father. The church was designed by George Frederick Bodley who was commissioned by Miss Mary Craven. Bodley commissioned the newly formed firm of Morris, Faulkener and Company to complete the decoration and stained glass, and the church was consecrated on 11 July 1863.
The windows exhibit designs by William Morris, Sir Edward Burne-Jones, Dante Gabriel Rossetti, Phillip Webb and Ford Madox Brown and the pulpit and the east wall are decorated with paintings designed by Rossetti, Morris and Burne-Jones.