Test

Martin was born Mary Evelyn Telfer on 7 July 1891 in Calcutta, British India (present-day Kolkata, India) to Alexander Prentice Telfer and Margaret Thomson Telfer (née Lennox).[1][2] Both of her parents worked as missionaries in Calcutta. The family returned to Scotland in 1897, when she was five, after her father was asked to lead Tarbet United Free Presbyterian Church. He would lead that church for 28 years, settling in Tarbet on the side of Loch Lomond. Martin gained three younger sisters while in Tarbet.[3]

Mamie Telfer and her fiance in 1915

She met Jack Martin at a family picnic in 1911. They soon discovered they were both set to study arts at the University of Edinburgh. During their enrolment there, she would write to him three times a week. They married and she again wrote to him as he served in the army during World War One.[3] Her husband was injured in 1918 and he was sent home. Jack was accepted as a missionary. In 1921, Jack and Mamie Martin arrived in South Africa where they met Dr Waterston, a fellow Scot, who had briefly worked in Nyasaland. According to Martin, Waterston spoke emphatically about her experience there.[4]

The Martins were travelling to Nyasaland to serve as missionaries at Bandawe.[4] Their seven-week journey included passage aboard the former troopship Dunluce Castle [de] and the sternwheeler Empress. Martin later recalled being impressed that her cabin was equipped with electric lighting. The Bandawe mission had been established in 1878. In Nyasaland, Martin organized classes for girls at a time when many families prioritised the education of boys. She led her first service (for women) in 1924. Women took a more leading role than some accounts report. She encouraged her girl boarders and they began to take part in services. Her husband was one of the progressive missionaries.[5] She was particularly impressed, that year, after hearing Harry Kambwiri Matecheta speak.[6] "Reverend Harry" was to be the first African minister in Malawi.[7]