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In 1971 the appeal raised £27,315
Throughout the 1970’s the Christmas Appeal continued to raise ever increasing amounts of money. In 1971 the appeal raised £27,315, this increased to £71,679 by 1980 and many attributed the appeals success during this decade to the hugely popular Rev. Austen Williams. Austen Williams was by all accounts a natural broadcaster and it was under his guidance and direction that the Christmas Appeal grew into a national and global appeal loved by many.
60th Anniversary of the first Religious Broadcast
1984 saw both the 60th Anniversary of the first Religious Broadcast and the retirement of the much loved Austen Williams. Upon his retirement many came forward to share their memories of Austen including Ronald Farrow of the B.B.C. who said: “Because of his modesty he makes the process of broadcasting seem so easy. As a broadcaster Austen has that rare and most precious gift of instinctively holding together, as one congregation, those present in the church and the vast unseen worldwide congregation. Through him St Martin’s became a church for the world and Austen a greatly loved pastor to the..Read more
