St. Martin's Episcopal Church 15801 US Highway 19 Hudson, FL 34667

A Brief History

Serving GOD and the community for over 30 years!

St. Martin's Episcopal Church began in 1982 with a congregation of approximately 50 people meeting at the Hudson Chamber of Commerce building. Shortly thereafter they moved to a two story bank building on US 19 in Hudson, Florida.

The church's first building was dedicated on the current property in December 1985. It served as a sanctuary and parish hall.

Money bequeathed to the church in the late 1980's provided for the building of offices and classrooms, which were joined to the original building by a breezeway in the late 90's the breezeway was enclosed, becoming a common area.

The congregation is led by a lay ministry. They provide the leadership and the backbone of the church.

Everyone is welcome!

Who Was St. Martin?

On Nov. 11, the Catholic Church honors St Martin of Tours, who left his post in the Roman army to become a "soldier of Christ" as a monk and later, bishop

Martin was born around the year 316 in modern-day Hungary. He was forced to join the Roman army at age 15. Martin strove to live a humble and upright life in the military, giving away much of his pay to the poor.

His generosity led to a life-changing incident, when he encountered a man freezing without warm clothing near a gate at the city of Amiens in Gaul. As his fellow soldiers passed by the man, Martin stopped and cut his own cloak into to halves with his sword giving one half to the freezing beggar.

Martin knew that the time for him to join the church had arrived. He remained in the army for 2 more years before becoming a monk. Martin built what may have been the first monastery in the region of Gaul. Once appointed as a Third Bishop, of Tours (France), he continued to live as a monk, dressing plainly and owning no personal possessions.

St. Martin of Tours has historically been among the most beloved saints in the history of Europe. In 2007, Pople Benedict XVI expressed his hope "that all Christians may be like St. Martin, generous witnesses of the Gospel of love and tireless builders of jointly responsible sharing."