Rev. Warren G. Martens

REV. WARREN G. MARTENS
Born 1928
Graduated Central College, Pella, Iowa - 1951
Graduated New Brunswick Theological Seminary
xxxxxNew Brunswick, New Jersey - 1955
Ordained by the Classis of Orange - 1955
Pastor, Reformed Churches of West Sullivan County
xxxxxCallicoon Center and Youngsville, New York - 1955-1957
Pastor, Levittown Community Church (Reformed)
xxxxxLevittown, Long Island, New York - 1957-1960
Chaplain, United States Navy and Marines - 1955-1965
Pastor, Pequannock Reformed Church, Wayne, N.J. - 1960-1964
Pastor, Clarkstown Reformed Church, West Nyack, New York - 1964-1990
Pastor, First Federated Church of Kerhonkson, New York - 1990-1996

Warren graduated from Central College, Iowa, in 1951, then entered the New Brunswick Seminary that same year.
During the seminary, he took an optional year of "Clinical Study". Clinical Study was a series of service assignments
at various mental and criminal institutions. Many seminarians dismissed Clinical Study as unimportant,
even frivolous, but Warren felt it was necessary for his calling.

At the start of his Clinical Study, he worked as a psychiatric aide at the Philadelphia State Hospital.
Meanwhile, Margaret Hunt, a West Virginian nursing student from Fairmont General Hospital School of Nursing,
was taking her Psychology component at Philadelphia State Hospital to complete her nursing degree.
(The Fairmont school at the time was too small have a Psychology department).
Warren and Margaret met, and romance bloomed.

In 1953, Warren continued his Clinical Study at the State Hospital in Independance, Iowa. Then he
served at the City Penitentary at Rikers Island, NY. While working at Rikers, he took time off to marry Margaret.

MARGARET HUNT MARTENS, Wife of Rev. Warren G. Martens
Born 1931
Graduated Fairmont General Hospital -School of Nursing
xxxxxFairmont, West Virginia - 1953

From 1953 through 1955, Margaret worked as a nurse to help put Warren through the Seminary.
As Warren would later say - "She earned her P.H.T. - - Put Husband Through."

After Warren graduated from New Brunswick, they moved to Callicoon Center, NY in June 1955
where Warren served as Pastor at St. Paul's Reformed.

PASTOR MARTENS IN STUDY
LEVITTOWN COMMUNITY CHURCH
Margaret did the paint-by-numbers Jesus on the wall.

PASTOR MARTENS BACK HOME FROM NAVAL CRUISE
TO HOLLAND AND GERMANY
Rev. Martens made the trip as a Chaplain for the Navy and Marines,
while Margaret stayed home with the children.
The souvenir boats they hold are actually cleverly designed desk lamps
with the sails functioning as lampshades.

LAYING OF CORNERSTONE FOR NEW FELLOWSHIP HALL
PAQUANNOCK REFORMED CHURCH - 1962
WAYNE, NJ

(click to embiggen)
BURIAL AT SEA - NORTH ATLANTIC
U.S.S. COMPASS ISLAND (EAG-164)
JULY, 1964
Urns containing the cremains of two sailors with the note "for sea burial" had sat unnoticed and forgotten in an attic for nearly 20 years. Upon their discovery, the navy arranged for a proper send-off. Chaplain Martens was assigned to lead the service during which he released their ashes into the ocean.

Finally, from 1964 to 1990,
Warren was at the Clarkstown Reformed Church in West Nyack, NY.

POSING AT FOUNDATION OF NEW PARSONAGE IN WEST NYACK, NY.
(left to right) ROBERT, MARGIE, DANIEL, TOMMY, MARGARET
1964
Robert is me!

After West Nyack, Warren entered semi-retirement and served part-time
at a church in Kerhonkson, NY for about 6 years before retiring fully.

The photos and much of their info are from an album assembled for Dad by Adelle Evans of the Clarkstown Reformed Church in 1964. Additional notes by yours truly are italicized.

THE MARTENS CHRONICLES

An ALBUM of our Dad's Career in the Ministry