About St. Martin's

St. Martin's Evangelical Lutheran Church is a congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. We are centrally located in downtown Austin Texas, and have gathered around the Word and Sacraments for more than 125 years. At St. Martin's, you will meet people who embrace many different viewpoints but who find their center in the love of God and care of God's creation. From its beginning, St. Martin's has been built on a foundation of faith, hope and the desire to share God's love.

St. Martin's Lutheran Church began in 1883 through bimonthly German Lutheran worship services. Rev. Henry Merz, a missionary from Switzerland who came to Texas after the Civil War, conducted the first Sunday services. Three months later, a congregation selected the name Deutsche Evangelische Lutherische St. Martin's Kirche (German Evangelical Lutheran Church of St. Martin's.) St. Martin was a 3rd century bishop, Martin of Tours, France (11 November 397). Martin gave his life in service to the poor and oppressed. Dr. Martin Luther, leader of the Protestant Reformation, and name sake of the Lutheran movement, was named after Martin of Tours as they hold the same baptismal birthday. 400 years after the birth of Dr. Martin Luther, St. Martin's Church in Austin was formed.

Throughout the congregation's history, St. Martin's has had 3 different structures built in downtown Austin. The first location on East Peach Street (later 13th St.) was built in 1884 - three months prior to the laying of the cornerstone of the state capitol building. Handmade bricks from the original capitol building, which was destroyed by fire, were used in the construction of the Peach Street location. After 45 years, the state capitol required and purchased the land of the church for its own expansion. A second location on 14th Street was selected. A white stone Gothic structure was erected and dedicated on April 28, 1929. St. Martin's beautiful wooden altar, hand carved in 1929 by a company in Wisconsin, was purchased and installed in the sanctuary. St. Martin's growth abounded yet again and just as the church was considering acquiring more property, the State again decided to expand the capital complex into the 14th Street location. In 1957, after selling the property to the State, St. Martin's purchased the current site on 15th Street. The cornerstones of both the 13th Street and 14th Street churches were removed and placed in the front wall of the new church at 606 West 15th Street on January 3, 1960.

The Romanesque edifice at 606 West 15th Street was dedicated on March 27, 1960. The structure was graced with stained glass windows, a chapel, gymnasium, offices, fellowship hall, and youth rooms. At the time, the new church was the largest church building project undertaken in Austin and the American Lutheran Church.

St. Martin's continued its growth through a Lutheran school, Stephen's Ministry, Wednesday Night at St. Martin's, support groups, and other outreach programs. The complex now encompasses two blocks of church grounds, building, parking and playground facilities and as strong ministries for outreach and music for children, youth and adults, and growing ministries for singles.

On Sunday, June 24, 2001, St. Martin's celebrated the rededication of its facilities after a major renovation project. Through this renovation, St. Martin's has been transformed to meet the ever changing needs of a progressive city and diverse community. In 2009, the congregation marked its 125th anniversary with a six-month celebration that included concerts, fellowship events, guest speakers and an April 25-26 weekend with ELCA Presiding Bishop Mark Hanson. St. Martin's is blessed by continued growth and a faithful congregation of over a thousand persons committed to the mission of sharing God's love.