Rev. Dr. Richard Cornish Martin

Reverend Doctor Richard Cornish Martin, 78, died on June 27, 2015. Father Martin was born (1936) in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was the son of the late Leon F. Martin and Virginia (Bullock) Martin. He graduated from the Central High School of Philadelphia, and received the Bachelor of Arts in Science from the Pennsylvania State University. He received the Master of Divinity from the Virginia Theological Seminary, and the Doctor of Ministry from the Howard University School of Divinity, Washington DC. Continuing education included courses in England (St. Augustine’s College), Wales (St. Deiniol’s Library), and Jamaica (University of the West Indies). He was ordained to the Diaconate (1961) and to the Priesthood (1962) by the Bishop of Harrisburg (Central Pennsylvania).

Father Martin began his ministry as Episcopal Chaplain to the Pennsylvania State University and Associate Rector of St. Andrew’s Church, State College, PA. He was called to the Diocese of Washington to serve as Episcopal Chaplain to the George Washington University, and Assistant at St. Paul’s Parish - K Street, where he had been a seminarian assistant. He became Associate Rector of St. Paul’s, and then as the third Rector of St. George’s Parish, Washington. He was then called to return to St, Paul’s as its Eighth Rector. Prior to retirement, he was interim Rector of the Church of the Advent, Boston, Massachusetts. In retirement, he has been Interim-Rector of St. Mark’s Church, Charleston; Interim-Rector of Grace Church, Pittsburgh; and Assistant at St. Thomas Church, Fifth Avenue, New York. Most recently he served as Assistant at St. Timothy’s Church, Raleigh. He was honored several times by nomination to the episcopacy (dioceses of Washington, Milwaukee, Botswana, and Northern Indiana).

In the Diocese of Washington he served over eight terms on the Standing Committee (six times as Secretary); the Commission on Ministry and was Editor of the Diocesan Cycle of Prayer. He was also founder of the Cathedral “Nave Clergy”. He served on many committees, including the Ad Commissions, which included Peace and Justice, Liturgy and Music, the Diocesan Council, and Diocesan Court of Appeals.

His civic involvement included the DC Board of Professional Responsibility of the Court of Appeals; the Research Board of Childrens’ Hospital; the Board of Directors of the Prevention of Blindness Society; and the Committee for Community Improvement, etc. He was for forty-six years, Superior of the Society of Mary (American Region), and served on the Council of the Guild of All Souls. He was the first priest admitted to the Society of the Holy Cross in the United States (1971) and served as Deputy Master. He served on the Board of Trustees of Nashotah House Theological Seminary. He was Founder and Convenor of the “Anglo-Catholic Rectors”. He was a member of Societas Liturgica, and of the Anglican International Liturgical Consultation. He was a member of Viri Viginti of Philadelphia and of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.

Father Martin is survived by his sisters, Dr. Leona M. Martin, MD and Fatima Abdulahad, RN, both of Yuma, Arizona, a niece, Mrs. Sandra Settle Roy of Little Rock, Arkansas, and a nephew, Dr. Stacey E. Settle, PhD of Durham. A Mass of the Resurrection will be held for Father Martin at St Paul’s Parish – K Street - 2430 K Street, NW, Washington, DC on Saturday, July 11 at 11:30 AM.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Saint Timothy's Episcopal Church, 4523 Six Forks Rd, Raleigh, NC 27609.

Arrangements by Brown-Wynne Funeral Home, 300 Saint Mary's Street Raleigh, NC 27605.