Belonging: Faith, Community and Hope in Action at St Martin-in-the-Fields

THINK OF A SEED, THE SMALLEST of SEEDS, STILL AND BURIED IN THE SOIL — WAITING . WHO WOULD EVER BELIEVE IT COULD GROW INTO A TREE? THIS SEED is WITHIN US, WAITING TO GROW. AT FIRST THIS SEED LIES DORMANT and UNSEEN, AS IF LIFELESS. IN THE DARKNESS AND SILENCE OF THE SOIL , THE SEED SPLITS OPEN, SHOOTS UP AND GROWS TOWARDS the LIGHT. THIS IS THE MIRACLE: THE GIFT of G D’S LIFE IN US . JESUS USES THE IMAGE OF A MUSTARD SEED — THE SMALLEST of ALL SEEDS BURIED in THE GROUND, YET ONCE SOWN, it GROWS UP AND BECOMES THE GREATEST of SHRUBS , SPREADING ITS BRANCHES WIDE ENOUGH FOR BIRDS to NEST IN ITS SHADE and FIND SAFETY IN ITS BRANCHES. WERE WE EACH A SINGLE SEED , WE WOULD BE MUCH FRAILER. but TOGETHER WE GROW, EACH SHELTERING AND GIVING LIFE to THE OTHERS — OUR ROOTS UNDER THE SURFACE INTERTWINING . in STILLNESS AND SILENCE , UNSEEN AND UNHEARD, THE LIFE of GOD BEGINS. BE STILL. LET THE SEED GROW.

Belonging : Faith, Community and Hope in Action at StMartin-In-The-Fields

Carrying St Martin’s Light Into the World

St Martin-in-the-Fields stands at one of London’s most visited corners, its spire rising above Trafalgar Square as it has since 1726. Yet the story of this church has never been only about the building. It is about people — and about what becomes possible when a church takes seriously its calling to welcome, to question and to serve.

At the east end of the church, the great window fills the space with light. Installed in 2008, it was designed not with traditional stained glass but with clear glass set in a delicate pattern, allowing daylight to pour into the church. The effect is striking, the outside world is not shut out but drawn in, reminding us that the life of faith is always lived in relationship with the world beyond the church’s walls.

That spirit of openness and connection shapes the work you will encounter in this booklet. Each project and community described here is supported by the St Martin-in-the-Fields Trust, and each reflects the same commitment to hospitality, thoughtful conversation and compassionate service.

The Chinese Congregation at St Martin-in-the-Fields celebrates the Chinese New Year with the wider community, bringing people together to share food and joy around a generous buffet.

By supporting the St Martin-in-the-Fields Trust, you help carry forward a centuries-old mission of welcome, service and hope for all who enter our doors

St Martin-in-the-Fields Trust

The St Martin-in-the-Fields Trust sustains and strengthens the life and mission of our church, caring for its centuries-old heritage and supporting worship, music and community at the heart of London.

The Trust raises funds for all aspects of St Martin-in-the-Fields, supporting the daily operations and long-term vision of the church. We also champion a wide range of social and community projects run here, including theology and faith-based communities, advocacy for disability and inclusivity in worship, lecture series, the St Martin-in-the-Fields Archive, and our work with people experiencing homelessness and those seeking connection and support.

The projects featured in this booklet reflect the breadth of our work. These projects are united by a shared conviction: that St Martin-in-the-Fields exists to serve, to include and to inspire — and that doing so faithfully over centuries requires sustained commitment and generous support.

And that’s why we want to thank you.

Your support allows the St Martin-in-the-Fields Trust to continue serving and nurturing our community, and sharing our heritage, music and theology with all who enter our doors. Because of you, the church remains a place of welcome, inspiration and service — today and for generations to come.

St Martin’s is never less than a parish church but often a lot more. The St Martin-in-the-Fields Trust and its generous donors enable St Martin’s to expand its imagination beyond that of most parish churches and explore the ‘edges of God’s ways’ through innovation and discovery that blesses both church and society and makes new forms of community.”

Revd Dr Sam Wells

Vicar, St Martin-in-the-Fields

“St MA

Our Nazareth Community A Contemplative Family for the Church and the World

At the heart of St Martin-in-the-Fields is a vision of church shaped by contemplation, inclusion and courageous love. Through the Nazareth Community and the Companions of Nazareth, that vision is taking shape in ways that are strengthening individuals, resourcing the wider Church, and offering hope in uncertain times.

Together, these two communities form one spiritual family — siblings shaped by the same simple rule of life, yet living it in different contexts across London, the UK and the world.

The Nazareth CommunityOur family in the city

Founded in 2018, the Nazareth Community has grown into a flourishing, diverse fellowship of over 100 members. Built around a simple rule of life combining seven roots —Silence, Service, Scripture, Sacrament, Sharing, Sabbath Time and Staying With — it offers a steady trellis for spiritual growth and faithful living.

In a city often marked by pace and pressure, the Nazareth Community embodies a different rhythm. Members gather three times a week, both in person and online, for contemplative prayer. Wednesdays are anchored in Eucharist and listening groups, and once a month the community shares extended fellowship with reflection, prayer and food.

Each member commits to compassionate service, and Nazareth volunteers help facilitate, serve and lead the Sunday International Group.

The Verger carrying the Processional Cross, leading the Choir of St Martin-in-the-Fields into worship.

Visit us online and explore inspiring resources and opportunities to engage with the Nazareth Community and the Companions of Nazareth

The Nazareth Community reflects the diversity of the city itself. It includes people from many different backgrounds and walks of life, including those who are homeless, or have faced homelessness, are asylum seekers or refugees, those with mental health difficulties or disability and from many different ages, cultures and professions. Each member of the community adds to the whole.

The symbol of the community is the Lampedusa Cross — a sign of solidarity with refugees and all who suffer, and a proclamation of hope: belonging, home and love of God and neighbour.

Joining of the Community of Nazareth has had a profound and wonderful impact on my spiritual life. It has given me such a beautiful community of brothers and sisters all over the world. I can’t imagine my life without it!

The Companions of Nazareth Our Global Family

When the pandemic closed church buildings in 2020, a new expression of Nazareth was born. The Companions of Nazareth were established to enable those unable to come regularly to St Martin’s to live the same rule of life in their own homes and contexts.

Today, there are over 170 Companions across nine countries.

It’s a place where I can seek God with others and experience the reassuring encompassing love of God in all circumstances, which provides me with strength, enabling me to share God’s love in daily life and challenges.

Companions gather online for prayer, contemplation, teaching and sharing. They renew their vows annually and commit themselves to the same sevenfold rhythm, woven flexibly into daily life.

This community is not an alternative to the local church; it strengthens it.

Companions remain active in their own congregations and ministries, sustained by the theological depth and contemplative grounding of Nazareth.

At a time when it has often felt as if my life and the world around me were stumbling from crisis to crisis, the Companions have provided a firm anchor of faith and companionship for the journey. It has provided precious sources of comfort, joy and inspiration.

One Family, One Charism

The Nazareth Community and the Companions of Nazareth share the same heart. One gathers physically at St Martin’s; the other gathers online across the world. Both are open, inclusive and generous in welcome. Both hold together contemplation and compassionate action. Both embody a church that listens deeply — to God and to one another.

Supporters of St Martin’s can take deep pride in this work. From the heart of London to homes across the world, Nazareth is flourishing, bearing fruit for the life of the Church and the healing of the world.

Becoming a Companion is a huge gift from God — with the message: ‘You thought you were at times alone, but you never were.’

“There

There are more than 170 Companions of Nazareth across the world and around UK. Many of them contribute to the congregational life here at St Martin’s and feel deeply resourced by St Martin’s in so many ways. I regularly hear Companions and members of Nazareth Community say ‘If only the Church were really like this’”.

Revd Catherine Duce Assistant Vicar for the Nazareth Companions

Lent Study Course

A Journey of Faith, Conversation and Inspiration

During Lent, St Martin-in-the-Fields offers its Lent Study Course, a weekly programme of theological reflection designed to help our community engage more deeply with our faith. Each session begins with a short service in church, followed by group discussions where participants share reflections and explore ideas together, in person or online. While the theme changes each year, our purpose remains the same: to explore faith together and encourage thoughtful conversation.

For our 2026 course, over 250 people joined us as we brought art history and theology together in a series led by Neil MacGregor, the world-renowned art historian and former director of both the National Gallery and the British Museum. Over seven sessions, we looked closely at selected masterpieces from the National Gallery, uncovering their stories and reflecting on what they mean for us today. Together, we explored how art can illuminate faith and invite us to engage with challenges in our own lives.

The Theology Group gathers regularly at St Martin-in-the-Fields, exploring faith, philosophy and community together.

Watch the Lent Course 2026 and explore a range of inspiring resources by visiting St Martin-in-the-Fields on YouTube

Disability Advisory Group A Place Where Everyone Belongs

At St Martin-in-the-Fields, we have long believed that a welcoming church must be built on belonging — not as an aspiration, but as a lived practice. For more than a decade, this conviction has been embodied in the work of our Disability Advisory Group (DAG), a community of people whose insight, experience and faith have shaped not only how St Martin’s engages with disability, but how the wider Church of England thinks about belonging.

Advocacy Within the Church Community

The DAG brings together people with physical, sensory, cognitive or mental health conditions or neurodivergence, from their own lives, loved ones or professional work. Meeting once a term over a shared meal, members reflect on barriers to belonging, advise on church processes and communications, explore faith through the lens of lived experience, and ensure disabled voices help shape decisions at every level of church life. A small working group — the Disability Implementation Group — carries that work forward between meetings, liaising with staff and clergy to turn insight into action.

Work by our DAG is widely regarded as pioneering and its influence has extended far beyond St Martin-in-the-Fields Trust. Our work has been cited in academic research, books, articles, broadcasts and diocesan training events. It was highlighted as a model of good practice at The Church of England’s General Synod in 2022. An even prouder moment was when Archbishop Sarah Mullally referenced our Disability Awareness Group in her maiden speech as the Bishop of London in the House of Lords in 2018:

Our churches, like our society, need to up their game when it comes to being welcoming and accessible places for people with disabilities. There are some good examples, including the Disability Advisory Group at St Martin-in-the-Fields, here in London. The driving force for their mission is to change attitudes towards those with disabilities—as not simply people presenting pastoral or practical challenges, but equals who bring unique potential to aid our renewal and mission as a church. In wider society, unlocking potential for those with disabilities brings benefit to us all.

Dame Sarah Mullally, Archbishop of Canterbury

A National Conference, A Growing Network

Central to this work is an annual conference on disability and theology, held in partnership with Inclusive Church.

Over thirteen years, more than 800 people have attended the conference. It has become a national resource, generating books, training materials and an informal network across the Church of England and beyond. Delegates include ordained ministers and those on the margins of church communities. Many describe experiences of epiphany, liberation and belonging for the first time.

The conference embeds access into its design.

British Sign Language interpretation, live captioning and audio description are integral. Hybrid formats connect onsite and online participants as one community. Workshops, storytelling and keynote addresses are centred on lived experience and underpinned by theology.

Participant feedback consistently highlights the significance of this space:

Blown away at the sense of belonging and welcome in the room, of spending the day with so many others that I have neurodivergent traits in common with, of shared language and understanding. A place where all were honoured, each of us, children of God... I don’t think I’ve ever felt so safe to be me.

Conference participant, 2025

A panel discussion at the 2016 annual conference titled, Prophets and Seers, hosted at St Martin-in-the-Fields Hall.

Impact Beyond St Martin-in-the-Fields

Through the Disability Advisory Group and the annual conference, St Martin-in-the-Fields is helping to reshape how disability is understood within church and society. By centring lived experience, embedding access into practice, and engaging with honesty and depth, the church offers a model of belonging that is both theologically rigorous and pastorally transformative.

For supporters of St Martin’s Trust, this work is a tangible expression of the church’s mission. It demonstrates how sustained commitment can influence national conversations, equip other churches, and contribute meaningfully to a greater understanding of disability across the country.

Rooted in the belief that those living with the knowledge of our vulnerability can offer theological insight — about presence, paradox and prophetic ministry — the DAG has made St Martin-in-the-Fields not only a more accessible church, but a more complete one. We are proud of this work, and grateful to the members and supporters who have sustained it for more than a decade.

The International Group

A Sunday Gathering That Changes Lives

Every Sunday morning, the doors of St Martin-in-the-Fields open to welcome a remarkable gathering. Migrants, refugees and asylum seekers in London, many of them homeless and facing destitution, make their way inside to find a place where they are seen, cared for, and truly belong.

This is the quiet work of the International Group.

Founded in September 2013, the Group has met every Sunday since. What began as a simple act of hospitality has grown into a sustained expression of our theological commitment to dignity, solidarity and hope.

Each week, between 65 and 75 guests gather. Practical support is immediate and tangible: hot food, showers, laundry facilities, and emergency supplies of clothing and essentials. Yet the deeper purpose of the Group is relational. It provides a stable, welcoming community where those who have often felt isolated or forgotten can encounter consistency, care, and belonging. Over twelve years, the Group has welcomed guests from more than 45 countries, continuing its work even throughout the pandemic.

I was homeless and from another country and this was one of the places that made me feel loved, safe, spiritually and materially safe.

Guest, International Group

Our heartfelt thank you to everyone who walked and donated to support the International Group at the London Walk 2026

Find out ways to support the International Group

The International Group embodies St Martin’s long-standing commitment to hospitality—a theology of welcome and keeping our doors open to all. The care and hope it offers have made a lasting difference. Many guests have been gently supported through the long asylum process until they were granted the right to live and work in the UK. Some who first arrived as guests now return as volunteers, giving back to the community that sustained them. Week by week, the Group nurtures confidence, strengthens mental well-being, and helps people rediscover hope, facing challenges alongside others who understand.

They treated me like a person and it was all so welcoming and was something to look forward to in trying times.

Guest, International Group

The Group is run almost entirely by volunteers, whose commitment ensures a high level of provision while carefully stewarding resources. They are supported by The Connection at St Martin’s and by a valued partnership with the Punjab Restaurant in Covent Garden London, whose team provides freshly prepared meals at cost price. The clergy and pastoral assistant offer continuity, safeguarding, and theological oversight, ensuring that care is both compassionate and well-grounded.

Now I am also able to help and give support to those who have supported me. It has been a community and the nicest group.

Volunteer, International Group

The International Group is not an isolated project. It is a living expression of St Martin’s mission: to stand alongside those on the margins, cultivate community across difference, and be a church that exists not for itself but for the world beyond its doors—especially for those the world has overlooked.

Every day I encounter an extraordinary diversity of people - regular worshippers, visitors from around the globe, those exploring faith for the first time, and those simply seeking a moment of peace. The constant ‘being with’ and sharing stories at St Martin-in-the-Fields reminds me that the church is at its best when it is open, welcoming and engaged with the world around it. I’m also deeply grateful to be part of this community where worship, hospitality and justice belong together.”

Revd Andrew Woodward Associate Vicar for Ministry

“Every

Autumn Lecture Series

Explore the Questions That Shape Our World

At St Martin-in-the-Fields, we invite you to join the Autumn Lecture Series, a space for thoughtful conversation about the ethical, cultural, and theological questions that shape our lives. The series brings together voices from across faith, the arts, politics, and academia, offering insights that help us reflect on the challenges our world faces today.

In 2025, the series ran from September to November under the theme Here I Stand. Where Do You?, offering twelve weekly lectures. We invited speakers from a remarkable range of fields—religious leaders, writers, actors, musicians, politicians, academics, and artists—each sharing personal insights and expertise. Among them were Bishop Mariann Budde, Mariana Mazzucato, Michael Rosen, Elif Shafak, Dame Mary Beard, Caroline Lucas, Cassa Pancho, and former Archbishop Rowan Williams and Dr Sam Wells.

It was a privilege to hear wisdom and insight across a wide range of fundamental questions.

Attendee, Rt Revd Rowan Williams lecture

THE AT SOUTH 1980S. PAST PEOPLE

Archbishop Sarah Mullally at St Martin-in-the-Fields, engaging with the community and sharing our mission of welcome and service

THE ANTI-APARTHEID SOUTH 1980S. TODAY

PAST PEOPLELABELS

After each lecture, attendees have the chance to join a Q&A and a reception, where they are encouraged to ask questions, share their thoughts, and connect with others. Whether you attend in person at the church or join online, these sessions are designed to foster dialogue and reflection for everyone.

The series is open to all, and many tickets are offered free of charge so that anyone can take part, regardless of means. In addition to those attending in person, audiences join online from across the UK and around the world, extending the conversation far beyond Trafalgar Square.

The experience of the speaker and her wisdom and intelligence was very helpful. It gave me much food for thought and a much perspective and hope, and Dr Adshead’s deep humanity - particularly given the people she helps – was inspiring.

Attendee, Dr Gwen Adshead lecture

By fostering dialogue that is both rigorous and welcoming, the Autumn Lecture Series is one of the most distinctive contributions we are making to theological and cultural life in the country.

This was simply terrific - thank you! Inspirational, thought provoking and deep, and yet so warm and kind. I cried with joy.

Attendee, Bishop Mariann Budde lecture

“On

One of the greatest poverties we face is to feel you have nothing to give, nothing to share and no one who understands or cares. St Martin-in-the-Fields is a church where we are open to people from all walks of life and enriched by each other. In a time where many feel anxious and lost, St Martin’s provides real community where difference does not divide but where we recognise how much we can learn from one another and together build a community that is life giving.

Revd Richard Carter Associate Vicar for Mission

St Martin-in-the-Fields Archive

Our Story, Our Heritage

PAST PEOPLELABELS GIFTS OF CELEBRATE

Every vibrant church community has a story, and at St Martin-in-the-Fields, that story is carefully preserved and shared through the Archive. Here, centuries of worship, service and community life are preserved in letters, registers, publications, photographs and objects. Together, they tell the story of how St Martin’s has worshipped, served and engaged with the wider world across generations. The Archive is cared for according to professional museum standards. Each item is catalogued in a cloud-based database and stored in archive-safe conditions, with preventive conservation measures to safeguard it for the future. This careful stewardship ensures that the church’s history remains both secure and accessible for research, reflection and learning.

The Archive is also woven into the everyday life of the church. Weekly volunteer sessions, contributions to church publications and newsletters, and participation in parish events keep the collection connected to the community. Those who volunteer often discover that engaging with the Archive deepens their understanding of St Martin’s and strengthens their sense of belonging.

As the church approaches its 300th anniversary in 2026, the Archive will take a central role in the celebrations. Exhibitions, audio guides, online tours and outreach initiatives will draw on its rich resources to share the story of the church more widely.

I’ve worked in Museums for many years and enjoy telling stories about the past with a mix of archives and objects within the setting of a historic building. I’m sure it comes as no surprise then that being the Archivist at St Martin’s is for me, a dream role. Working with a team of volunteers, each week we find wonderful tales to share amongst the contents of the archive storeroom as well as in and around the church building.

PEOPLELABELS AND OF CELEBRATEALL

Thank you for making this possible

The work described in these pages is extraordinary — and it is also fragile. It relies on the generosity of people who believe, as we do, that a church like St Martin-in-the-Fields matters. Not just as a landmark, a concert venue or a famous address, but as a living community with a distinctive calling. Every Sunday, the doors open for refugees and asylum seekers who have nowhere else to turn. Every week, members of a global contemplative community gather, in person and online, to pray and to serve. Every year, hundreds of people encounter fresh perspectives on disability and faith.

None of this happens by chance, it happens because of your support.

If this booklet has inspired you or sparked your curiosity, please consider making a gift to the St Martin-in-the-Fields Trust. Every donation, large or small, helps preserve our heritage, nurture our community, and carry St Martin’s light forward. You can donate using the QR code below. If you would like to explore ways to support this work more deeply, reach out to us and we would be delighted to hear your thoughts.

Our East Window illuminated at night, inviting all who pass by to pause and reflect

By supporting the St Martin-in-the-Fields Trust, you help carry forward a centuries-old mission of welcome, service and hope for all who enter our doors.