St. Matthew's United Church (Halifax, Nova Scotia) facts for kids

St. Matthew's United Church

St. Matthew's United Church is a historic church located in downtown Halifax, Nova Scotia. It is part of the United Church of Canada. This church has been an important place for people to gather and worship for a very long time. It was founded in 1749, the same year the city of Halifax was established.

A Church with a Long History

St. Matthew's was first created for different groups of Protestants. These groups came from New England and did not follow the Church of England. In the beginning, they met on Sunday afternoons in St. Paul's Church. This was a Church of England building completed in 1750.

The church got its own building in 1754. It was built at Hollis and Prince streets. Sadly, this building was destroyed by fire in 1857. A new church was then built at its current location. This spot is at 1479 Barrington Street. The land for the new church came from the Black-Binney House estate. The church also used the nearby Old Burying Ground (Halifax, Nova Scotia) for burials.

How the Church Changed Over Time

When it first started, St. Matthew's was a mix of different Protestant groups. It mostly included Presbyterians from Scotland and Puritan Congregationalists from the American colonies. As time went on, during the 1800s, more and more Presbyterians joined. They eventually became the main group in the church.

In 1787, the church agreed to follow the rules of the Church of Scotland more closely. They officially joined the Church of Scotland in the 1830s. Later, in 1875, they became part of the Presbyterian Church in Canada.

However, in 1925, the church went back to its roots in a way. The United Church of Canada was formed that year. This new church united several major Protestant groups, including Presbyterians and Congregationalists. So, St. Matthew's became part of this new, larger church family.

In 1999, the church celebrated its 250th Anniversary. A new history book was written for this special occasion. It was called A sentinel on the street; St Matthew's United Church, Halifax 1749-1999.

Important People at St. Matthew's

Many important people have been part of St. Matthew's United Church.

Ministers Through the Years

Here are some of the ministers who led the church in its early years:

• Rev Aaron Cleveland (1751–1753)
• John Seccombe (1761–1783)
• Thomas Russell (1784–1787)
• Rev Andrew Brown (1787–1795)
• Rev Archibald Gray (1795–1826)
• Rev. John Scott (minister) (1826–1883)

George Monro Grant was a minister from 1863 to 1877. He was the grandfather of George Parkin Grant. In June 1877, he was appointed as the Principal of Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario. This appointment was made by the Presbyterian Church in Canada. Sandford Fleming, a famous engineer, was also a leader in the church during Grant's time.

The current Minister of Word, Sacrament, and Pastoral Care is The Rev. Elizabeth (Betsy) Hogan. She has served the church since 2010.

Notable Members

• Joshua Mauger

Images for kids

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  Rev Aaron Cleveland (1751–1753)

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  Rev Andrew Brown from the University of Edinburgh (1787–1795)

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  Rev Archibald Gray (1795–1826)

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  Rev. John Scott (minister)

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  St. Matthew's (left), 1762

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  St. Matthew's Church, Barrington Street, Halifax, around 1900