St Martin's Church

  The history of St Martin's Parish Church begins in the thirteenth century when a Christian community was established at St Nicholas Laindon.  Throughout the centuries 

  Christians in that area worshipped there.  With the advent of the New town of Basildon the congregation under the leadership of the then Rector, the Reverend William Winfield, 

  organised the building of a new church in the centre of the town.

  On 27th February 1960 land on which the church is built was conveyed to the Church Commissioners and the Rector of Basildon, and building work commenced.  

  On Saturday 15th October 1960 the foundation stone was laid by Humfrey Gale, Chairman of Basildon Development Corporation.

  Two years later on 10th November 1962 the church was consecrated by the Bishop of Chelmsford and placed under the patronage of St Martin of Tours.

A freestanding Bell Tower was built in 1999 and was opened by Her Majesty the Queen 

 and dedicated by The Rt. Rev. John Perry The Lord Bishop of Chelmsford on Friday 12th March 1999.

  Women have played a notable part in St Martin's, The church was designed by Mrs T M Cotton R.I.B.A., 

  the Tenor bell now in the bell tower was cast in 1441 by Joanne Hille (the first bell in the world to be cast by a woman) 

  and the present incumbent is St Martin's first female Rector the Reverend Esther McCafferty.