Who Is Martha Downing, John Hagee’s Ex-Wife

John Charles Hagee is an American pastor and televangelist.

Martha Downing is John’s first wife and ex-wife. The couple got married in the year 1960 and divorced in 1975 — They spent fifteen years together.

Hagee married Downing in 1960, and the couple had two children together.

At that time, Hagee was the pastor at Trinity Church in San Antonio, but he had to resign because of criticism from his divorce.

In a 1975 letter, John Hagee told his congregation that he was guilty of immorality, after which he divorced his wife, Martha Downing.

The exact immorality is unknown.

He married Diana Castro, a member of his congregation, on April 12, 1976. According to Reference.

The remarriage immediately following his divorce led to allegations that he had an affair during his marriage.

Pastor John Hagee has three children with Castro, named Matthew, Christina, and Sandy.

Hagee and his children with Castro are also musicians, who performed together as The Hagee’s.

On May 11, 1975, Hagee started a new church, called The Church at Castle Hills. According to Reference.

Despite having only 25 members at first, it quickly outgrew its original space, necessitating two expansions.

A sanctuary with 1,600 seats was in the first, and one with 5,000 seats was in the second.

Cornerstone Church was Hagee’s moniker for the second sanctuary. Later, Matthew, his son, succeeded him as the church’s executive pastor.

Hagee has authored books and preached on several Christian television networks. He founded a number of religious institutions as well.