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Saint Matthew's Episcopal Church
St. Matthews Episcopal
Church | 695 Southbridge St | Worcester, MA 01610 |
Church History
Founded by English immigrants, St. Matthew's had its beginnings as a mission chapel of All Saints Church that grew to become a prominent institution in the Village of South Worcester. The early parishioners, who had journeyed to America to work in the carpet mills, overcame hardship and obstacles through courage and determination to "build up their little church."
On September 21, 1871, St. Matthew's Day, the first service of worship was held in a small chapel built, in part, with funds raised by the women at All Saints. When this first house of worship was destroyed by fire in 1893, plans for a new church commenced. Designed by Stephen Earle, the beautiful Gothic revival building features Romanesque motifs and exhibits one of the most impressive displays of Tiffany stained glass windows on the East Coast. St. Matthew's is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Throughout its 130-year history, St. Matthew's has cultivated its English parish roots, nurtured by the first immigrant community it served; and to this day cherishes its rich heritage of music and liturgy. The Anglican choral music tradition was reflected in the choir of men and boys which flourished for some fifty years. Today, the parish has begun to incorporate more recent immigrants from Africa and other parts of the globe who have added their own gifts to this increasingly exciting and diverse community. St. Matthew's has shared the hopes and heartbreaks of its neighbors, and has been the center for encouragement, inspiration, spiritual growth, faith and nurture for more than five generations.
St. Matthew's parish hall has served its community well over the years by providing space for after-school programs, twelve-step groups, ethnic congregations and other outreach programs as well as the parish Sunday school, youth group, church fairs and gatherings, meetings and activities, office and chapel. Recently renovations and improvements have made the hall handicapped accessible and energy efficient.
Eight rectors have served St. Matthew's in its 130-year history, along with clergy assistants and interim clergy. The present rector is The Reverend Nancy Baillie Strong, the first female rector in the City of Worcester.
On May 26, 1994, at a celebration of the one hundredth anniversary of the laying of the church cornerstone, Bishop Robert S. Denig urged the congregation, as they go forward, to "bear this in mind: Your goal is not simply to endure, to carry on as those who have gone before you in this place have carried on for 100 years. That is a truly noble accomplishment but that, alone, is not your goal. Your goal must be to lose yourselves, to spend yourselves, to pour out yourselves for this part of the world God loves and Jesus died to save."
As St. Matthew's looks toward the future to which God calls us, its members continue as people of faith and hope, sharing the blessings of God and the Good News of God's love with all who cross their paths or enter their doors. St. Matthew's call to new mission for the twenty-first century is the call of our Lord: "Go then, to all people everywhere and make them my disciples..." Matthew 28:19.
except from "A History of the Episcopal Diocese of Western Massachusetts", From the Blackstone to the Housatonic.
For a more detailed history of the church, copies of Forward Through the Ages written by Paula Rowse Buonomo are available at the church office, Worcester Public Library and the Library of the Worcester Historical Museum.
Additional information is also available at the following website prepared by Holy Cross students:
History of St. Matthew's written by Holy Cross students
