75 Years of St. Martin’s
Past, Present, Future
St. Martin’s enters its 75th year as a parish that is truly growing and thriving. This growth is due to a legacy of faithfulness, welcome, and love freely offered to our community and handed down from one generation to another. This year, in addition to our annual campaign, we’re excited to launch a new capital campaign. Scroll down to learn more about each project. Your contribution to each of these campaigns helps St. Martin's continue to be a place of sanctuary for us and our community for the next 75 years and many more to come.
Buildings & Grounds Endowment
Providing for future growth and stability
Churches serve as more than places of worship; they are beacons of community, culture, and history. Our church buildings serve so many, and the past decade has seen numerous maintenance and improvement projects to preserve and enhance our physical plant.
At the same time, our buildings have entered a period in their lifespan in which they need constant maintenance and repair. Rather than our buildings becoming a burden on our congregation, establishing an endowed maintenance and improvement fund will enable us to approach our campus needs strategically, considering ministry needs and future growth, rather than predominantly budgetary concerns.
Debt Reduction
Freeing resources to enable ministry
In the course of a parish's life, there are times when taking on debt is needed to maintain property and empower ministry. St. Martin's has borrowed a number of times over the years, most recently to replace the roof on our aging Parish Hall. Entering our 75th year, we are pleased to say that roof loan is the only debt remaining held by our parish.
In addition, thanks to your faithful giving, this year our leadership approved a balanced budget for the first time since 2019, giving us an incredible opportunity to position St. Martin's for the future. Currently we spend approximately $50,000/year in payments and fees on the Parish Hall roof loan. Freeing those funds from our budget would enable them to be used to equip St. Martin's for new ministry. These funds could be used to fund an additional staff clergyperson, a curate, or to enhance existing ministries.
How to give
Mail a check:
St. Martin’s-in-the-Fields
5220 Clemson Ave,
Columbia, SC 29212
Gifts of Securities & IRA’s:
Contact Robyn Holt at
803-787-0392, ext. 105.
What are the Campaign Goals?
Total: $1.8 Million
$1 Million: Buildings & Grounds Endowment
$500,000: Organ Upgrades
$300,000: Debt Reduction
Organ Upgrades
Preserving a tradition of musical excellence
Music has long been an integral part of the church’s identity, inspiring worshipers and enriching services. The decision to enhance our 1972 Schantz pipe organ was born out of a desire to elevate the quality of musical expression within the church. The goal being to provide both the church choir and guest musicians with a versatile instrument for worship and community concerts. The result will be greater musical versatility, projection, and an improved quality of sound.
Great consideration and care will be given to the integrity and history of the instrument, quality and timbre of sound, and longevity so many future generations can continue to enjoy sacred organ music here at St. Martin’s.
Any funds in excess of those needed for the renovation will be added to an organ maintenance fund to help keep our organ in excellent condition for years to come.
Annual Campaign
Thank you for your faithful support!
Last year St. Martin's leadership challenged our parish to raise giving to meet the needs of our growing congregation, while also calling upon our Vestry and Finance Committee to reduce expenses and produce a balanced budget. We want you to know that those efforts have borne fruit.
Thanks to your generosity, we have been able to raise our pledged giving to just over $1.2 million. We also produced the first balanced budget in almost a decade. This year, with the start of our 75 Years of St. Martin's Capital Campaign, we are asking the parish to keep pledged giving steady.
Make a commitment to maintain your current pledge. Make a gift to the 75 Years of St. Martin's campaign, and help us ensure St. Martin's continues to grow in mission, ministry, and service for many years to come. Click the button below to make your pledge.
Pledge Online: