WHO WE ARE
Where we live
Bethany Beach, home to St. Martha’s, is part of Delaware’s “Quiet Resorts” — a string of charming coastal towns stretching from the Indian River Inlet to the Maryland line. The area is known for its wide beaches, peaceful inland bays, wooded parks, and slower pace of life that invites both reflection and adventure.
While summer brings generations of families to the shore, the community has also grown into a vibrant year-round home for many who are drawn to its warmth, beauty, and strong sense of connection. Founded in 1901 as a religious retreat, Bethany Beach still carries that spirit today.
who we are
Saint Martha’s is a warm, welcoming, and growing Christian community known for its strong sense of hospitality. Parishioners greet our many visitors and invite participation in church life. We strive to reflect Christ’s welcome by recognizing each person's gifts, providing pathways into ministry, and nurturing authentic relationships. At St. Martha’s, we believe in the power of God to transform lives and change the world. Everyone is welcome to explore with us what it means to be followers of Jesus.
OUR HISTORY
St. Martha’s began in 1940, when the Rt. Rev. Arthur P. McKinstry, Bishop of the Diocese of Delaware, recognized the need for a summer chapel to serve vacationing Episcopalians in Bethany Beach. Six lots were purchased, and architect William H. Thompson designed a small chapel—originally named St. Martin’s—with plans for future expansion. Summer services were led by visiting clergy from Wilmington, including John E. Hines, who later became Presiding Bishop.
In the 1950s, the Rev. Richard S. Bailey of All Saints’, Rehoboth, assumed oversight, organizing the Altar Guild and enhancing the chapel’s interior. As a nearby mission in Selbyville grew into its own St. Martin’s Church, Bishop Mosley renamed the Bethany chapel St. Martha’s to avoid confusion.
As the local community expanded in the 1960s, so did the desire for year-round worship. This became a reality in 1979, made possible by the presence of the Rev. Nathaniel C. Acton, a retired priest who settled in Bethany Beach. Under his leadership, St. Martha’s began offering continuous Sunday services, a tradition that has continued since 1980.
The congregation grew steadily through the 1980s, becoming a mission of the Diocese of Delaware in 1984. Outreach ministries expanded, and lay leadership strengthened through the Mission Committee. By 1990, increased membership led to the church’s first major expansion, adding much-needed space for worship and fellowship. Further renovations in the mid-1990s reshaped the church into its present form.
In the late 1990s and early 2000s, St. Martha’s moved toward parish status, supported by dedicated clergy and lay leadership. After a period of intentional transition and discernment, the Rev. William Hunt Wickham was called as the church’s first rector in 2004. St. Martha’s was formally recognized as a parish in 2005.
Since 2005, St. Martha’s has been blessed by a succession of rectors, each bringing distinct gifts in pastoral care, parish leadership, faith formation, education, and worship. Together, they have sustained and shaped the parish into the vibrant, growing, and deeply engaged faith community it has become today.
ST. mARTHA'S MILESTONES
1940: William H. Thompson designed a small chapel—originally named St.Martin’s—with plans for future expansion.
1950s Church was renamed to St. Martha’s
1960’s: Demand for a year-round church arose as the community grew
1979: St. Martha’s began offering continuous Sunday services
1980s-1990s: Expands community outreach programs,
St. Martha’s became a mission of the Diocese of Delaware. The first major expansion began in 1990.
2000s-Present: William Hunt Wickham was called as the church’s first rector in 2004. St. Martha’s was formed as a parish in 2005.
