St Matthew's Church, Custom House facts for kids
St Matthew's Church, Custom House, was a Church of England church located on Ethel Road in the Victoria Docks area of West Ham. It was named after the nearby area called Custom House. This church played an important role in the lives of the people living in this part of London for many years.
What Was St Matthew's Church?
St Matthew's Church started its journey in 1860. It was first built as a "mission church." This means it was a smaller church set up by a larger church to help spread its message and support the community in a new or growing area. The money to build it came from Charles Morrison, who was in charge of the Dock company at the time.
Growing into its Own Parish
Initially, St Matthew's was connected to St Mark's Church, Silvertown. Later, it became a mission church for St Luke's. This was a common way for new churches to get started and find their footing. Over time, as the community around Custom House grew, St Matthew's became more important. By 1920, it was given its own "parish." A parish is like a special area that a church is responsible for, looking after the spiritual needs of the people living there.
The Church's Final Years
After 1945, the church was looked after by priests from the Church of the Ascension. This continued until 1960, when St Matthew's Church was officially closed. The very next year, its parish area was joined with the parish of the Church of the Ascension. By 1966, the building itself was taken down to make way for new buildings and developments in the area. Even though the building is gone, its history remains a part of the Custom House community.
