History of St Martin's

Bradley is a Black Country Urban Village - the place where John Wilkinson built his first iron works. Here the world’s first iron boat was made. Bilston and Bradley became famous for the quality of its engineering workmanship. Over the past thirty years the steel works and other major engineering factories have closed. Unemployment soared. Many shops in nearby Bilston were boarded up. The government responded to the employment needs, by improving the infrastructure, and trying to attract new industries through the Black Country Development Corporation.

In 1975 the Victorian church building was demolished because of dry rot in its roof. For a while Sunday worship was conducted in St Martin’s Church of England Primary School. It was a time of re-thinking objectives - a time of growing as a church family. St Martin’s looked around for a building in which Jesus Christ could be served in a deeper more effective way.

In 1983, the old church school was consecrated as the parish church. Immediately, the church family sought to respond to the changes in the local situation. They joined an initiative of local churches called Bilston Enterprise that co-operated with the Government in providing training for employment. St Martin’s used their building for training in nursery gardening, and painting and decorating. They co-operated with the Health Authorities in providing living accommodation and support for a few mentally ill people in the community. They founded a Church Lad’s and Church Girl’s Brigade Company in order to contact young people and to challenge them with the good news of Jesus Christ. They maintained a good contact with the Church of England Primary School, and church members served on the governing body.

St Martin’s joined with other local groups to provide money and leadership to build a Senior Citizens Centre in Coronation Park.