The Revd Norma Nelson and Coral Hallum write:
FRANCES MARTIN, who died on 19 June, aged 92, was a former president of the Church of England Moral Welfare Workers' Association, and Principal of Josephine Butler College, Liverpool, who did distinguished work overseas, particularly with the World Council of Churches.

She came from a family formerly of doctors and surgeons, one of whom practised in Rodney Street, Liverpool, shortly before 1900. She had one brother, now deceased.

After boarding school in Broadstairs, then grammar school, where she matriculated, she went to a finishing school in Versailles. By then, her family home was at Stanmore, Middlesex. After service during the Second World War in the Women's Auxiliary Air Force, her education continued at Liverpool University, and Josephine Butler Memorial House, from 1946 to 1949, where she obtained a BA in church social work and theology.

Her work experience ranged widely, from posts in secretarial work and the theatre, to meteorology for the WAAF in Cyprus, Egypt, and the Middle East. In the 1950s she spend four years working in Penang, Malaya (later Malaysia), and surrounding countries, at first in charge of a girls' approved school, and later with boys.

In the late 1950s, she returned to England as Principal of Girl Training Courses with the Outward Bound Trust. This involved personal work with girls, encouraging them to know themselves and to realise their potential. To promote the courses, she toured industry and education authorities from the head office in Victoria, London.

From 1959 to 1966, Frances was Principal of the Josephine Butler College in Liverpool. This was probably her chief contribution to the life of the Church of England. The college was a C of E foundation, providing women students from Britain and overseas, of all Christian denominations, with training that led to the Inter-Diocesan Certificate in moral-welfare work, or a Home Office-recognised course for work in approved schools.

The subjects studied included biblical studies, church doctrine, sociology, psychology, social administration, Christian ethics, and moral-welfare work. The latter dealt with helping unmarried pregnant young women and girls, and those enslaved in prostitution, and so upholding the principles of the founder, Josephine Butler.

The course, which included visits of observation and social-work placements, gave a thoroughly practical and academic experience. Students were then qualified for posts in probation services, prisons, local authorities, and voluntary organisations.

At the same time, Frances was president of the Church of England Moral Welfare Workers' Association. She demanded high standards of professionalism and commitment from her colleagues and students, undergirded by strong faith in the living God. When the British Association of Social Workers was formed, the Moral Welfare Association was one of its constituent members. Hard work was the order of the day, and sometimes the night, "that we should never tire in doing well".

After that, Frances was invited to a post at the World Council of Churches' Commission on Inter-Church Aid, Refugee, and World Service. This suited her concern for the poor, the victimised, and marginalised people, for whom she constantly sought care and justice. This was work that she greatly enjoyed for intellectual stimulus and reality. Based in Geneva, she travelled extensively, engaging with relief projects for refugees, and supporting self-help projects in education, agriculture, health, and community development.

Frances was committed to learning as well as serving. She was well read, and widely interested in relieving the needs of the poor in practical programmes. She was quite often outspoken, and critical of the greed and selfishness of rich countries and Western nations.

Frances took her spiritual and philosophical support from the scriptures, and in particular the life of Jesus Christ, as well as from other religious thinkers. She displayed a profound spirituality when leading daily worship.

On completion of her post in Geneva, Francis became Social Responsibility Adviser in St Albans diocese. After a few years, the opportunity arose to go abroad again, and she went to be secretary to the Bishop of the Gambia.

In 1979, Frances was invited to take up an appointment in Namibia diocese, but a work permit was refused. Frances returned home, before being recalled by the WCC to do useful work for the International Year for Disabled Persons, including research in other countries. Her remit included assessment of refugee travel-loan programmes in Cambodia, Australia, the United States, and Canada. Whenever an opportunity arose, Frances travelled widely, always alert to understanding different cultures and religions, and conscious that welfare needs had to be met wherever possible.

Frances was a very private person, but made many good friends. She was also artistic and musical, read professional journals as well as much non-fiction, and always kept abreast of current affairs.

Frances retired in 1985. Her retirement years were not as she would have hoped; and she was often restless and frustrated. We can give thanks to God, however, for a woman who strove faithfully to change the world. As Frances said: "Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path, and leave a trail."