St Matthew's Church, Widcombe facts for kids

Quick facts for kids St. Matthew's Church
General information
Architectural style	Victorian architecture
Town or city	Widcombe, Bath
Country	England
Coordinates	51°22′35″N 2°21′7″W / 51.37639°N 2.35194°W / 51.37639; -2.35194
Construction started	1846
Completed	1847
Technical details
Structural system	Bath Stone masonry
Design and construction
Architect	G. P. Manners

St Matthew's Church is a historic church located in Widcombe, a part of Bath, Somerset, England. It stands on Cambridge Place, close to the Kennet and Avon Canal. This church was built between 1846 and 1847. It was mainly designed by George Phillips Manners, who was the architect for the city of Bath. St Matthew's is one of two churches in the Widcombe area. The other is the much older St Thomas à Becket.

About St Matthew's Church

Building and Design

St Matthew's Church was built using Bath Stone, a type of limestone found in the area. Its design follows the Victorian architecture style. This style was popular during the time of Queen Victoria. The church has a tall tower with a pointed roof called a broach spire.

Church Bells

Inside the church's spire, there are six bells. Four of these bells are even older than the church itself! The oldest bell was made in Bristol around the year 1500. Imagine how many events that bell has rung for over the centuries!

Community Use

In the 1970s, St Matthew's Church was updated. These changes made it possible for the church to be used for more than just worship. It became a parish hall, which is a community center. It now has rooms for meetings and can host different events for the community and the church.

Recent Activities

In the summer of 2014, a new group of church members started meeting at St Matthew's. A new full-time priest began leading the church. Since then, weekly worship services have been held every Sunday evening. The church continues to be an active place for faith and community gatherings in Widcombe.