St. Matthew's Anglican Church

About

St Matthew's Anglican Church is an Anglican church in the Glebe neighbourhood of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. It was founded in 1898 and is among the oldest Anglican parishes in central Ottawa.

St Matthew's was established after the creation of the Diocese of Ottawa. From 1910 to 1945, St Matthew's was the largest parish in the Diocese.

The first building on First Avenue, immediately west of Bank Street, which was of frame construction, was opened on July 17, 1888.

The original building on First Avenue at Bank Street was a wooden structure designed in 1898 by noted architect John William Hurrell Watts. Two new transepts were added by Watts in 1903.

"Rev. J. A. Tancock", the first rector served from February 1888 until he resigned on August 1, 1901. "Rev. Robert W. Samwell" (1864-1901) was transferred from the parish of Wales, on the St. Lawrence, near Cornwall before being appointed second rector at St Matthew's from 1901 until his illness of typhoid fever and pneumonia which had lasted over fifteen weeks until his death on August 24, 1902. During his illness the parish was in the hands of a divinity student C. Franklin Clarke.

The church was enlarged and dedicated on July 17, 1903, by the erection of a transepts five years after the first services were held. It was reopened on September 22, 1903. This enlargement was not sufficient to cope with the ever-growing congregation, which by 1908 numbered 1984. Steps were taken to more than double the size of the church. The building was enlarged by a second transept opened on September 22, 1908, with a seating capacity of 700.

The electropneumatic Casavant Frères Opus 376 organ was dedicated on November 11, 1908. In 1931, Casavant Frères enlarged and moved it into the new church and enlarged. It In 1957, the English firm of Hill, Norman and Beard enlarged it further. In 2005, Les Orgues Baumgarten restored it, adding en chamade Trumpets.

The Rev. Edward A. Baker was appointed the first curate from June 1, 1911, until he resigned in 1914. The Rev. White Burton Morgan was appointed curate from May 1, 1914, until October 21, 1914, when he resigned to become rector and curate at St. Martin's and St. Stephen's in Ottawa. *Rev. R. C. Magee was appointed curate from November 1, 1915, until he resigned at the end of the same year.

The Rev. G. S. Anderson was appointed Rector on January 8, 1914, until he resigned on April 30, 1927.

The Right Reverend J. C. Roper, D.D., Bishop of Ottawa, unveiled a memorial tablet in January 1921 containing the names of: Harold T. Burgess, Albert E. Cuxner, Walter F. Dicks, Richard L. Downing, Horace Hunt, Thomas G. King, Raymond W. Nichols, Jukes F. Perkins, Robert Ralph, Edward Cuno McGill Richer, Maurice O. Samwell, William C. Saunders, George S. Selley, Arthur S. Sievers, Allan C. Walker and Glenholm Wilson who died in the Great War. Archbishop Hamilton and Prime Minister Arthur Meighen attended a ceremony where a plaque was "dedicated in loving memory of Sergeant Glenholme Wilson, 38th Battalion. Born Jan 18, 1894; Killed in Action Nov 18, 1916 on the Somme, France while leading his platoon on to victory after his superior officers had fallen. If I fall thank God it will be that I shall have died doing my duty."

Bishop Roper dedicated the new altar, erected by the congregation. Three windows above the altar were dedicated to the members of the church who served during the Great War. The altar was erected by Mrs. A. K. Lows in memory of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. S. Slinn; and the bishop's chair, and tablet were placed in the church by Mrs J. W. A. Kirk and family in memory of the late Mr. Kirk.

St Matthew's was established after the creation of the Diocese of Ottawa. From 1910 to 1945, St Matthew's was the largest parish in the Diocese.

The first building on First Avenue, immediately west of Bank Street, which was of frame construction, was opened on July 17, 1888.

The original building on First Avenue at Bank Street was a wooden structure designed in 1898 by noted architect John William Hurrell Watts. Two new transepts were added by Watts in 1903.

"Rev. J. A. Tancock", the first rector served from February 1888 until he resigned on August 1, 1901. "Rev. Robert W. Samwell" (1864-1901) was transferred from the parish of Wales, on the St. Lawrence, near Cornwall before being appointed second rector at St Matthew's from 1901 until his illness of typhoid fever and pneumonia which had lasted over fifteen weeks until his death on August 24, 1902. During his illness the parish was in the hands of a divinity student C. Franklin Clarke.

The church was enlarged and dedicated on July 17, 1903, by the erection of a transepts five years after the first services were held. It was reopened on September 22, 1903. This enlargement was not sufficient to cope with the ever-growing congregation, which by 1908 numbered 1984. Steps were taken to more than double the size of the church. The building was enlarged by a second transept opened on September 22, 1908, with a seating capacity of 700.

The electropneumatic Casavant Frères Opus 376 organ was dedicated on November 11, 1908. In 1931, Casavant Frères enlarged and moved it into the new church and enlarged. It In 1957, the English firm of Hill, Norman and Beard enlarged it further. In 2005, Les Orgues Baumgarten restored it, adding en chamade Trumpets.

The Rev. Edward A. Baker was appointed the first curate from June 1, 1911, until he resigned in 1914. The Rev. White Burton Morgan was appointed curate from May 1, 1914, until October 21, 1914, when he resigned to become rector and curate at St. Martin's and St. Stephen's in Ottawa. *Rev. R. C. Magee was appointed curate from November 1, 1915, until he resigned at the end of the same year.

The Rev. G. S. Anderson was appointed Rector on January 8, 1914, until he resigned on April 30, 1927.

The Right Reverend J. C. Roper, D.D., Bishop of Ottawa, unveiled a memorial tablet in January 1921 containing the names of: Harold T. Burgess, Albert E. Cuxner, Walter F. Dicks, Richard L. Downing, Horace Hunt, Thomas G. King, Raymond W. Nichols, Jukes F. Perkins, Robert Ralph, Edward Cuno McGill Richer, Maurice O. Samwell, William C. Saunders, George S. Selley, Arthur S. Sievers, Allan C. Walker and Glenholm Wilson who died in the Great War. Archbishop Hamilton and Prime Minister Arthur Meighen attended a ceremony where a plaque was "dedicated in loving memory of Sergeant Glenholme Wilson, 38th Battalion. Born Jan 18, 1894; Killed in Action Nov 18, 1916 on the Somme, France while leading his platoon on to victory after his superior officers had fallen. If I fall thank God it will be that I shall have died doing my duty."