CHURCHES BY THE SEA
by: M. Allen Gibson (Halifax Herald)

Tradition asserts that credit for the coming of the words "chapel" and "chaplain" belongs to St. Martin Bishop of Tours.  It is noteworthy, then, that when the Anglicans of Martin's River constructed the church to which they gave his name, that place of worship was sometimes referred to as a chapel within a parish of Mahone Bay.

It is of interest too, that the building of the Martin's River church occured at a time of special significance in the parish's ministry.  Rev. W. H. Snyder was in the closing months of a pastorate which, excepting for a brief absence, lasted for thirty-seven years.  His curate, Rev. E. A. Harris, who succeeded to the rectorship in 1889 was in the early part of a forty-seven year incumbency.

Two consecutive pastorates of such duration embrace a great deal of a parish's development.  Rev. W. H. Snyder first came in 1852 as a resident missionary.  Eight years later the parish boundaries were established and St. James, Mahone Bay, was separated from historic St. John's, Lunenburg.  Under Canon Harris who died in 1931, the work continued to expand and included further division in 1913, which attached St. Martin's church at Martin's River to the newly created parish of St. Martin over which Rev. C. H. Telmay became the first rector.

The determination to have their own identity as a congregation prompted the people of Martin's River to have their cemetery consecrated in 1886 and to undertake the building of a church.  Even now some of the older residents are able to recall the bazaars and tea meetings by which the initial funds were raised.  Some of the bazaars are remembered as being held in the school house and lasting for days.

The church was raised in 1888.  It was used for divine service as soon as the exterior was completed.  The first pews consisted of boards placed across woodhorses, comfort being of little importance when weighed agains the satisfaction of having a church in the community.  "Fight the Good Fight" and "Onward Christian Soldiers" are remembered as two of the hymns frequently sung at early services.

The site occupied by both church and cemetery was obtained from Jacob Langille who had inherited from his father, also named Jacob, a large area of land on the West side of the river.  Recently, O. R. Langille has added to the usefulness of the property by providing space for parking.

The church is one of attractive style and pleasing appearance.  Approaching it from Mahone Bay along the main highway is to be impressed by its dignity and the beauty of it setting.  The loveliness of the interior is enhanced by light filtering through colored windows each of which contains a religious symbol in the upper sash.  Continuing pride in their church led the parishoners in 1960 to add a vestry and install an oil furnace.

Road junction and railway are close by, crowding the scene with a profusion of signs.  The one which most quickly attracts however is a colorful wayside message which invites and welcomes the passer-by to the church of St. Martin.