The foundation stone of St. Martha's Roman Catholic Church was laid in 1939, weeks before the outbreak of World War II. Despite serving the local community and billeting soldiers from 1940, it was not consecrated until 1971. Now St. Martha's is a thriving church where all generations play an active part in their faith.

History
On 11th August 1939, the foundation stone of the new church was laid by the Right Reverend William Brown, Bishop of Pella, an auxiliary bishop to the Bishop of Southwark. In a sealed envelope behind the stone were placed current copies of The Times, The Universe, the Bexhill Observer, and several 1939 coins, together with a parchment recording the occasion.

The architect was Mr. Marshall Wood, of Hooe, and the contractors were the Bexhill firm of E. Godwin and Sons. The cost of this building was £711,400. Substantial financial help was given by a member of the Sainsbury family.

With the outbreak of war in September of 1939, and the resulting mobilisation of all available personnel to building coastal defences, special permission had to be obtained from the Ministry of Works in order to complete the building.

Built entirely of brick, the church is plain on the outside and unadorned within. It relies on its own architectual lines - including the nave windows which continue through the line of the eaves, the use of rounded arches and of four different varieties of brick to create its own special visual impact of calm, uncluttered space. The architect has created a building that blends well into the Sussex countryside. It has a quiet, homely atmosphere which endears itself to its regular users.

Completed in 1940, the church opening was a quiet affair. It was to be 1942 before it was used as a regular Mass centre on Sundays, and Mrs. Paul Sainsbury was the first Sacristan.

During the war many of the local congregation had been evacuated following the fall of France, and the Sunday Mass was augmented by troops who had been billetted in the area.

The consecration of St. Martha's took place in January 1971 - by the Bishop of the recently established diocese of Arundel and Brighton, Bishop David Cashman. By this time the earlier altar (containing relics of Pope St. Clement, and St. Cecilia) had been repositioned to allow Mass to be celebrated with the priest facing the people.

Several parishioners contributed towards the furnishing of the church. These include Mrs. Durham who gave the crucifix and the painting of Our Lady in the Lady Chapel. The statue of Our Lady was given by Mrs. Dorothy Bird in 1949 in memory of her husband. The Stations of the Cross which show more than a passing resemblance to the work of Eric Gill, were made by Catholic artists in Crawley.

In 1986 Fr. Keith Tomlinson bought a two manual pipe organ from the Methodist church in Wadhurst and installed it in the choir gallery. Wadhurst was the home of the Novitiate House of the Rosminian Order from 1880 to 1970. The opening recital was given by Mr. Paul Inwood, music advisor to the Diocese of Arundel and Brighton.

1992 saw the fulfilment of the long awaited ambition when a church hall was opened behind St. Martha's church. Various building plans had been considered over the years, but, thanks to a generous loan of £40,000 from the Rosminian Order, the dream has finally been realised. The hall which cost £93,000, was designed by Mr. Kenneth Higgs and built by the Bexhill firm of A.J. Hammond. It is similar in size to an original scheme proposed in 1947, when Fr. Maurice Stokes was parish priest.