Our Mission and Vision
At St. Martin's, our mission and vision is to serve, care, and show forth the Light, Truth, and Reconciling Love of Our Savior, Jesus Christ, to our neighborhood, both now and in the years to come. We strive to know, love and serve God as an open and welcoming church. We reach out to retirement communities in the Greater New Bedford area, offering the Eucharist and bringing food from our food pantry. Our outreach to the community is all-inclusive, and it is of the most importance to us.
Our core values are representative of St. Martin's as a traditional, neighborhood church. We reach out to members within our local community through our food pantry, thrift shop, choir, church suppers, fellowship, and healing ministry. All are welcome at God's table, regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, or life story - no matter where you are on your spiritual journey in life. All are unconditionally invited to the table of the Holy Eucharist.
Our History
One church, many devoted members and leaders
St. Martin's Episcopal Church at 136 Rivet Street in New Bedford, Massachusetts, has a long and distinguished history that began as a service to the local community and continues to be so today. In 1887, a number members from Grace Church decided that the more than one-hundred English residents in the South End of New Bedford, those hardy Lancashire folk who worked in the mills, should not have to make such a long trek...
Baptisms, Weddings, Funerals, and Pastoral Services
In our continued mission within the community, St. Martin's is proud to have served our congregation and local residents with a place to celebrate and host some of life's most memorable occasions. Our history and location allow us to provide a home, a comfortable place of worship, for all backgrounds, races, and ethnic varieties. The purpose of our Parish, exemplifying the Spirit of St. Martin, our patron, is to serve and to care, and show forth the Light, Truth, and Reconciling Love of our Savior, Jesus Christ, now and in the years to follow.
We proudly serve New Bedford and the cities that we are bordered by, which include Fairhaven, Dartmouth, Freetown, and Acushnet, Massachusetts, as well as other neighboring communities. Contact our staff regarding the following services, including:
- Baptisms for people of any age
- Weddings and pre-marital counseling sessions
- Funerals and memorial services
- Pastoral services to provide confirmation and confession or to anoint the sick or dying
Special Services
We observe several Special Services for Episcopal worship throughout the year at St. Martin's. Some of those occasions include the Blue Christmas service for those who are grieving during the holidays, the Christmas Eve service to celebrate the Birth of Jesus on December 24th, Holy Week - including Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday, Easter Sunday Service, and the Honoring of Mary, the mother of Jesus, on the second Sunday in May.
You can check our Events schedule on our website for more details about Special Services and other happenings at St. Martin's to get specific dates, times, and additional essential information.