SMES Historical Timeline
1951 - St. Martin in the Fields Episcopal Church is established as a mission church of the Cathedral of St. Philip. 1952 - The Rev. A.L. Burgreen becomes the first rector of the church.
1954 - St. Martin in the Fields Church opens its doors.
1959 - St. Martin's Episcopal School opens a kindergarten with 43 students under the leadership of Rector Canon Samuel T. Cobb and School Director Hazel Gailliard. Most of the students were parishioners or neighbors. In the 1970s, parents got in line at sunrise to register their children for the school.
1961 - Pierce Hall is constructed. Most of St. Martin's pre-school classes are held in this building.
1965 - The Rev. Martin Dewey Gable becomes rector. He serves until 1989.
1977 - Gable Hall opens.
1983 - St. Martin's Elementary School opens with 16 1st graders. School Director Millie Foote guides the school's expansion. Ann Nama is the first 1st grader registered for the new school.
1985 - St. Martin's holds its first fund-raiser event -- a dinner in Gable Hall. Mary Ann and Charles Nama and Millie Foote cooked beef burgundy in the church kitchen. The event cost $20 per couple and netted about $4,000 for the school. This event later became known as the Fling, a dinner/dance/auction which raises more than $100,000 annually.
1987 - Dr. M. Neely Young begins his term as St. Martin's first headmaster. He serves until 1999.
1988 - Claiborne Hall opens.
1991 - The Rev. Douglas Remer becomes the fourth rector of the church.
1991 - Young Hall opens.
1992 - St. Martin's decides to expand with a middle school program.
1994 - SMES graduates first 8th grade class: John Bragg, Tad Giles, Alex Hailey, Lauren Hood, Suzanne Lock, Austin Logan, Kelley Otto, Jenny Porter and Ellen Weil.
1997 - New land is purchased for the school. Construction begins following a major capital campaign.
1999 - New Hall and Parish Life Center/Gymnasium open with a dedication ceremony on Oct. 3, 1999. The projects adds 44,000 square feet to the campus and expands every grade to include additional sections. The construction also includes a cafeteria, known as The Commons.
2000 - The Rev. Dr. James E. Hamner, IV, begins his term as headmaster.
2004 - The Rev. Dr. John McCard is named rector of St. Martin in the Fields Church.
