St Martin's Church Walsall

St Martin’s Church stands at the corner of Sutton Road and Daffodil Road in Walsall, a West Midlands town. It belongs to the Anglican tradition, linked to the Diocese of Lichfield and the Deanery of Walsall. The church takes its name from St Martin of Tours and serves three large suburban estates: Orchard Hills, Brookhouse and Park Hall. Before the present building, worship took place in the Red House Pub, now the Longhorn. The land once belonged to the Stanley family, whose home was demolished by mistake instead of the old Three Crowns pub. The church has a notable history. It began as a church plant under the Reverend Vernon Nicholls, later Bishop of Sodor and Man. The building was consecrated in 1960 by the Bishop of Lichfield, Arthur Streetton Reeve. Its design features an A-frame structure and a large carving of Christ with children by Raymond Forbes Kings. In 1975 it became a parish with its own minister, and by 1977 it had its own district church status. The Team Ministry was introduced in 1987, linking it with St Matthew’s and St Luke’s, before becoming independent in 2011. Inside, the church offers a simple yet striking interior with its A-frame design. The carving of Christ with children dominates the space, created by Raymond Forbes Kings. The two yew trees at the front once stood in the garden of the Stanley family home. The building serves the local community through its Open Evangelical tradition. St Martin’s House, built later, provides a home for the resident minister. The church remains a place of worship and community for the surrounding estates.