History of Holy Child and St. Martin Episcopal Church

A Pastoral History of Holy Child and St. Martin Episcopal Church

The story of Holy Child and St. Martin begins on July 21, 1955, when the vision for St. Martin’s Episcopal Church first took shape under the Rt. Rev. Karl Block. Set upon a gracious knoll gifted by builder and Episcopalian Henry Doelger, the congregation broke ground on September 6, 1957. Guided by its first vicar, the Rev. Henry A. Dick, St. Martin’s quickly became a spiritual home for the families of the growing Westlake community—people seeking stability, hope, and new beginnings after World War II.

Surrounded by new neighborhoods, schools, and emerging civic centers, St. Martin’s flourished. By the early 1960s, its pews were full and its church school thriving with more than 200 children. As the years passed and families began moving outward, the congregation sought renewed support and partnership from the wider Diocese.

The Birth of a Filipino Ministry

Meanwhile, the story of St. Barnabas reached back to 1906. After its building was moved—by oxen—to San Francisco’s Excelsior District in 1911, St. Barnabas grew into one of the Diocese’s most diverse and vibrant congregations.

By 1969, with a strong and growing Filipino presence, the church became the first official Filipino-American ministry in the Diocese of California. Under leaders such as the Rev. Sancho A. Gaerlan and later the Rev. Vito Q. Villalon, St. Barnabas became a spiritual center where culture, compassion, and Episcopalian faith intertwined.

As Daly City emerged with one of the largest Filipino populations outside the Philippines, the Diocese discerned a new path forward: the Filipino Ministry would join with St. Martin’s. In 1993, the two communities came together as Holy Child and St. Martin Episcopal Church (HCSM).

Growing as One Body in Christ

With families from both congregations as its charter members, HCSM became a living expression of the Episcopal Church’s beauty and breadth. Today, its members represent a tapestry of cultures—Filipino, European-American, African American, Chinese, Peruvian, Cuban, Japanese, and many more—gathering joyfully as one people of God.

Though a devastating fire in 2005 damaged the sanctuary, the congregation met faithfully in the fellowship hall for nearly two years, rebuilding with resilience and hope. Over time, HCSM has been shepherded by dedicated vicars, including the Rev. Bayani Rico, the Rev. Leonard Oakes, and now the Rev. Jureck Z. Fernandez.

Our Vision

Holy Child and St. Martin Episcopal Church is a diverse and welcoming community, embracing all to live and grow in faith, and guiding our neighbors toward the healing presence of Christ.

This vision flows from our history and inspires our future—calling us to be a place of refuge, renewal, and deep belonging for all God’s people.