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Address STHL 1ZZ, Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha Similar Briars - Saint Helena, Diana's Peak, Plantation House, Saint Paul's Cathedral, High Knoll Fort | ||
Saint Matthew is a church on the island of Saint Helena and is part of the Diocese of St Helena. It is situated in Hutt's Gate in the Longwood district. The church opened in 1862. It is designated as a Grade II listed building.
Contents
The church was reportedly in a state of disrepair during World War I and was completely rebuilt after.
Local history
On leaving the University of Oxford, in 1676, Edmond Halley visited Saint Helena and set up an observatory with a 24-foot-long (7.3 m) aerial telescope with the intention of studying stars from the Southern Hemisphere. The site of this telescope is near the church. The 680m high hill there is named for him and is called Halley's Mount.
Also nearby is Napoleon's Tomb, where the former French Emperor was buried 1821-1840.
Parish
The parish of St Matthew (one of three parishes on the island) has one daughter church, Saint Mark's in Longwood, and a congregation at Levelwood with no church.