Welcome to St Martin's Emmaus!

Based in a recycled Tudor fort, utilising recycled buildings furnished with recycled furniture and running a recycling and re-circulating business, St Martin's Emmaus does its best to preserve the environment. While the business helps to keep the community alive, the companions themselves are the reason for its existence.

Each companion will have his or her own history that may or may not be revealed, but each will arrive with one need or many. Within the community he/she has a secure home with a private room and shower room; companionship is available; long-standing friendships may be made; there is the certainty that encourages the redevelopment of self-respect. As a journalistic headline put it, Emmaus creates "Recycled Lives"! Our patron is Terry Waite, CBE.

Our History

The community was opened by a call from the gate on 30 December 1995. A co-ordinator was in residence, but her house was far from wind and water tight and the remaining buildings were in worse condition. However, Sean became the first companion in makeshift accommodation and was soon joined by two others. Over the years up to 1999 the community grew as buildings were restored, first to 3 companions, then to 7, then to 10 and ultimately to its capacity of 21.