St Martin's - Church History
Dating back to 1552, St Martin's has been a place of worship for many generations of Christians, as well as a local landmark serving to remind people of the Christian faith. It is a reflection of the people who have lived and worked here. It represents changes that each generation has brought (some generations more than others). As people change so has this church and the process continues to this day.
The first Christians knew, and those alive today understand, that the Church is not a building, but the people who worship in the building. Real Christians today, as then, are the Church of Jesus Christ, who have responded to His love for them with the love and surrender of their lives. They are those who have turned “from the best bliss that earth imparts” and found in Him “Life in all its fullness, forgiveness of sin and the joy of life eternal”.
We welcome you to our church building, but we pray that each visitor may come to know the Living Lord for themselves, and be part of the Church of living stones of the risen Lord Jesus.
Finding information about the church and its history has proved to be something of a challenge but thanks are due to Clive Millington, from Audley Family History Society, who provided the summary document linked to below. It describes the foundation of the church in 1552 and various developments up to 1859 as well as mention of two very long-standing vicars between 1859 and 1943 - 84 years between them! Clive's document includes excerpts from three documents: (1)"Audley 'an out of the way, quiet place'”, Edited by R. Speake MLitt. Published by The Department of Adult Education, University of Keele, 1972, (2) A former website dedicated to the village of Talke. and (3) Collections for a History of Staffordshire 1915
Audley Family History Society kindly help us with enquiries about our registers. You can find information about them here. The Church of England normally charges £30 for record searches, so a donation to Audley Family History society might be appreciated if they're able to help.
Admittedly taken from different angles you can see from the pictures below that much has changed between 1841 and today!
If anyone has anything they would like to add to or change on this page please use the contact us page to let us know.