Martin, William Benjamin James.

William Benjamin James Martin was born in Morriston, South Wales, on February 17, 1904. In 1933 he graduated from the New College of Divinity School, University of London, and was ordained to the ministry in the Congregational Church. The University of Chicago honored Martin with a Doctor of Divinity degree in 1958.

Rev. Martin served as Chaplain to Congregational students at the University of Edinburgh, Scotland; Pastor of Augustine-Bristo Church (now Augustine United Church) in Edinburgh, 1951 to 1958; and Pastor of First Community Church (United Church of Christ) in Dallas, Texas from 1961 until his retirement in 1976.

His wife, the Rev. Phyllis Mary Webber Martin, also was an ordained minister. They were married on March 8, 1940.

In addition to his pastoral ministry, W. B. J. ( Bill ) Martin was a popular teacher and lecturer in the fields of preaching and English literature. His teaching positions included a year as visiting professor at the University of Chicago (1958-59) and two years as visiting professor of homiletics at Southern Methodist University’s Perkins School of Theology (1959 to 1961). Dr. Martin also served SMU as Lecturer in English poetry and as an instructor in the School of Continuing Education. His published works include The Diary of Peter Parson (1957), Acts of Worship (1960), Little Foxes that Spoil the Vines (1968), and Sermons for Special Days (1975).

Following Rev. Martin’s death in Dallas on November 26, 1983, his estate donated part of his library to Bridwell Library. In 1985 First Community Church established an endowment enabling Perkins School of Theology to award an annual W. B. J. Martin Award in Homiletics to an outstanding student in introductory preaching classes.

Sources:

Dallas Morning News . 7 New Instructors Named to SMU Staff. August 6, 1959.

Dallas Morning News. Dr. Martin to Address Mary K. Craig Class. December 2, 1962.

Dallas Morning News. Eight Great Humanists Featured in Lectures. January 17, 1960.

Parnaby, Mary C. The History of Augustine Church, 1877-1941, and of Augustine-Bristo Church, 1941-1977 . [Edinburgh]: [N.F.W. McPherson], 1978.

Swank, Patsy. The Shared Wisdom of W. B. J. Martin. Dallas Morning News. July 27, 1975.

U.S. House. Committee on the Judiciary. W. B. J. Martin, (to Accompany S. 1335) . (87 H. Rpt. 945; Date: 8/15/1961). Text from: Committee Reports. Available from: ProQuest® Congressional (Online Service). Bethesda, MD: Congressional Information Service.

From the guide to the W. B. J. Martin papers BridArch 105. 34., 1959 – 1976, 1961 – 1976, (Bridwell Library, Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University)