Photo Tour

The structure you are about to enter was built in 1970-71.

Bishop Henry Benjamin Whipple, first bishop of Minnesota, responsible for the founding of St. Martin's

It replaced the first church built in 1876 by English immigrants which was the first church building in Fairmont. [Actually that may not be true but the original author liked to think so.] The building to the left rear is the original Guild Hall.

This is the interior of the old church, probably at some time in the 1950s. The priest at the altar is obviously in the middle of the prayer of consecration at Holy Communion. You can barely see that the round window over the altar is the portrait of the Lord which is now at the back of the new Guild Hall. This is the only interior picture I can find from this era. I am hoping that some family album will yield a wedding picture with the bridal couple in front of the altar in a good closeup of the sanctuary.

This is the round window which was over the altar in the old church. It has a place of honor in the current Guild Hall.

It is known locally as "the triangle church" or "the church by the library" but it is St. Martin's Episcopal Church. This is how the church looked when it was first built. We later added a covered, drive up portico which necessitated removing the distinctive triangular bell tower.

The first service in the new church was held on Palm Sunday, April 4, 1971. The building was consecrated on August 23, 1977, exactly 100 years to the day the first church building was consecrated.

The first service in the new church was held on Palm Sunday, April 4, 1971. The building was consecrated on August 23, 1977, exactly 100 years to the day the first church building was consecrated. This is the procession waiting in good order to enter the church on the day of the consecration.

Welcome to St. Martin’s. Please join us for a tour of the building. The front doors are framed with stained glass, repeating the motif of the stained glass throughout the building. Please note the green sign saying that the priest is in. When the pastor is working alone in the building, for her personal safety we usually keep the doors locked. Please use the door bell seen on the frame to the right of the doors and she will come to greet you. When she is not in, the notice will have her cell phone where you can reach her.

As you enter the narthex, or entrance or lobby area, directly to your left, in back, is a nook with the book from which the people prayers will be read. It is open so that names of individuals to be prayed for can be added. Across from it is an extra pew, possibly meant to be a “crying pew” or place to sit with a restless baby. On the table is the open book from which the Prayers of the People will be read. It is open so that names can be added to our prayers.

The wooden carved wall plaque is of St. Martin. He is dressed as a bishop in a mitre (the hat) and holding his stylized shepherd’s crook, or crozier, symbol of his office. The goose, by quacking betrayed his location to Roman soldiers who were hunting for him, earlier in his life. Also on the left inside the narthex. An extra pew (probably meant to be a crying pew in the 1970's) rests on the right of the door.

Returning to the main floor, the first room to your left is the priest’s office, and houses the computer, priest’s books etc.

Next is the combination chapel and library. It is used by local organizations as well as for church functions, vestry meetings and adult education. A large collection of books rest on the shelves as well as media equipment, or it may be down the hall in the children’s classroom.

The chapel contains the altar from the original church and some of it’s furnishings. The altar is graced with a brass cross. If the heat should fail in the sanctuary during the winter, a small service could be held here. A ceramic Agnus Dei adorns the wall above the credence table. You are welcome to sit for a time of meditation. The room is also used as a bride’s room or a place of refuge for the family prior to a funeral.

Former Sunday School rooms complete the north wing of the church. Note the stained glass windows in the wing, brought from the original church when it was razed in 1970. One is a combination of office space for our deacon, Jennelle Cunning, who is rarely in the building.

This is the room as it looked previously when configured as a chapel with furnishings from the old church. On the left wall is an Agnus Dei commissioned by Fr. Charles Thayer.

The windows from the old church were saved and scattered through the church. This one is in the north hallway. Note the descending dove in the upper circle, symbolic of the presence of the Holy Spirit.

The next is the parish office where lay members are free to use the computer and do any desk tasks they need to do in the building. The desk with the computer is for general use and the other is used by the financial team.

The last room, in the northeast corner of the building, is a staging area for children’s programs, and houses media, school and craft supplies.

There is also a playpen which could serve as a safe place for an infant to nap. You can barely see it in the far corner of the room.

This is the "safe place for a child" crib when it was in the parish hall.

Returning to the place of entry - we look into the nave. The capacity of the nave is about 120. Each pew has a kneeler, a copies of the 1979 Book of Common Prayer (red) and the 1982 Hymnal (blue). There are also cards and pencils allowing you to leave a note.

This is an older view of the sanctuary. Note that the two windows from the old church which now flank the cross have not yet been installed. Also behind the altar, flanking it, are two small shelves for flowers. They were later replaced by a long continuous shelf, or retable, across the back. During the Pascal season, the great 50 days from Easter eve until the day of Pentecost, a large white candle stands - giving light - begun at Easter vigil from a new spark, new fire. The pascal candle burns at all services during the great 50 days, also at baptisms, funerals, and other special occasions during the year.

A view of the altar in Advent. Directly ahead, during the Advent season (four Sundays of Advent, plus the twelve days of the Christmas season) stands the Advent wreath. It holds four candles, usually three purple/dark blue and one pink, with a large central white candle added on Christmas eve representing the birth of Christ.

Coming to center front, to the left is the pulpit, matching the decor of the rest of the building, and is used for preaching. Next to it is the bell tree, used in festive seasons.

This is a close up of the bell tree. Behind it is a hymn board on which parts of the service are listed, in this case the Psalm of the day.

During Fr. Thayer's time a great deal of crewel work was done. Crewel is stictchery on a mesh done with knitting yarn. This kneeler was placed behind the altar for the use of acolytes. "The goose became a symbol of St. Martin of Tours because of a legend that when trying to avoid being ordained bishop he had hidden in a goose pen, where he was betrayed by the cackling of the geese." according to his Wikipedia article. On top is the date 1976 plus the initials of the maker.

Enmegahbowh (c. 1820 – June 12, 1902; from Enami'egaabaw, meaning "He that prays [for his people while] standing"; also known as John Johnson) was the first Native American to be ordained a priest in the Episcopal Church in the USA. This was another courageous act by our founding bishop, Henry Benjamin Whipple.This icon in the sanctuary celebrates the importance of Native Americans in the Diocese of Minnesota.

To your immediate right is the highly ornate brass lectionary stand. The lectionary book is held here for use by the laity in the readings of appropriate lectionary readings from the Old and New Testaments.

The lectern was brought from England as a memorial to one of the founders, Catherine Wollaston, wife of Percy Wollaston.

Looking to the back of the church we see the choir loft. The organ pipes and works are housed there and just above the organ pipes we see a pair of angels adoring a cross, a wooden carving, by the gentleman that was involved with the building of the first church. Here are stored altar paraments, banners, flags and other items used on special occasions through the year. About twenty people can be seated here during especially large events such as funerals.

Continuing to the left, join us as we enter the "guild hall", or Jerusalem room - a place of refreshments and conversation, both after services, at any church gatherings, and used by many local organization for meetings.

The kitchen at the far end at the guild hall is well equipped with stove, ovens, microwave, refrigerator, and dishes.

Displayed in the guild hall are several rubbings, each with a story of their own. Follow the rubbings around the room and into the hallway at the rear of the guild hall. Most are from English burial sites, some done by congregants on trips there, others purchased. There is also a tour document for them which I will make into another Facebook album with photos. This one is a bishop robed in death as he was for his office in life.