St. Matthew's Anglican Church (Ottawa)

Establishment

For most of the 19th Century, the diocesan organization for Anglican churches in and around Ottawa was remote. Authority in the Church of England was administered first from Halifax, Nova Scotia then from Kingston, Ontario. In 1896 the northern and eastern parts of the Diocese of Ontario (Kingston) became the separate diocese of Ottawa and had its own bishop. The new diocese covered an area of almost 18,000 square miles, including eight counties and most of the district of Nipissing reaching west into Algonquin Park. It started with 51 parishes serving 30,000 people.

St. Matthew's Anglican parish was established after the creation of the Diocese of Ottawa. The late Archbishop Hamilton was the first bishop of the new diocese, of which he was a native having been born in Hawkesbury. Because of his many years in Quebec City, Archbishop Hamilton chose St. Matthew’s for the first parish he created in his new diocese of Ottawa.

After his consecration he quickly noted the growth of Ottawa southward and took immediately to fill the needs of church people and he also laid the cornerstone on July 6, 1888. Bishop Hamilton appointed Rev. J. A. Tancock as rector in February 1888 and the first service in the newly formed parish was held in July 1888 in the newly dedicated church. The service was held in what was known as Moorland’s Hall on the south east corner of Bank Street and Fourth Avenue on January 13, 1888 and attended by 15 persons: Mrs. Clara M. Clarke & Miss E.L. Hammon, Mrs. J. P. Enston, Mrs. C. X. Bowse, Miss Emma Coyles, Master George Coyles and Mrs. H. X. Marshall and Mrs. Joseph Roy. The first hymn sung was "The Church's One Foundation". Miss E.L. Hammon was on the organ and the singing was by Mrs. Clara M. Clarke. When collection, time came there were no plates, so Mr. Moreland went down to the store and brought two plates up which were used.

The congregation decided to go ahead with the erection of a church and four lots were purchased on First Avenue, immediately west of Bank Street. In 1904, the church bought a large house on 223 First Ave., which served as a rectory. The rectory was repaired by 1941. The rectory was subdivided from the lot in 2005.

From 1910 to 1945, St Matthew's was the largest parish in the diocese.

First Avenue Church

St Matthew's Anglican church on the Glebe was erected by July 1, 1898. Rev. Mr. Tancock, the rector and the churchwardens accepted the plans of Architect J. W. H. Watts April 14, 1898. The contract for building the building was awarded to Mr. J. H. Copping, at a cost of $2,500. The following resolution also was passed: "That the vestry of St. Matthew's parish in the City of Ottawa being now duly constituted under Canon of the diocese of Ottawa, desire, as their first act to put on record their hearty and grateful appreciation of the generous aid extended to them by their brother churchmen in Ottawa towards the purchase of a suitable site and the erection of a building for Divine service to be used as a parish room and Sunday school where a church hall have been erected to the future. That the list of subscribers be entered on the minutes, and that a copy of the Ottawa paper which may publish this resolution be sent to each subscriber."

The church had about 100 members. Those who have subscribed towards the erection of the building were:

The first building on First Avenue, immediately west of Bank Street, which was of frame construction, was opened on July 17, 1888. There was an Apse Sanctuary; hammer beam trusses supported the roof and there was a cross on the roof at the chancel end. It was almost the only building between Bank Street and Bronson.

The boundaries of the new church were, roughly, the cross tracks on the north, and canal on the east and south. Bronson Street West and Preston Street on the East Ottawa did not then form part of the parish. 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.

A creek ran alongside the first St Matthew's Church, and the croaking of frogs Joined with the voices of the congregation in the hymns at Evensong.

"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.

"Rev. Walter M. Loucks", curate St Christ Church, Cathedral, was appointed third rector from October 1, 1902 until December, 1913, when he resigned to become rector of All Saints Church, Winnipeg. With a parish of 3000, people felt it was time to plan for a new and larger church extended northward "almost doubling the sittings." For some time the need of more room had been felt by the congregation, which under Rev. Mr. Loucks, grew rapidly. The architectural plans by John William Hurrell Watts called for a transept which would provide extra sitting. With the transept added the church was cruciform in shape. 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. The organ was moved to new church and enlarged by Casavant Frères in 1931. It was expanded by Hill, Norman and Beard in 1957, adding a new console, a horizontal solo trumpet, and a positiv division. Rt Rev Ernest Reed, Bishop of Ottawa dedicated the new organ in St Matthew's Church on Sept 22, 1957. The inscription reads: "This organ is dedicated to the worship of God here on earth and in memory of the parishioners called to His worship in heaven in the Second World War, also as a thank offering for the safe return of the others who served." The organ was restored and Chamade Trumpets were added by Les Orgues Baumgarten 2005.

"Rev. Edward A. Baker" was appointed the first curate from June 1, 1911 until he resigned in 1914. Rev. M. B. Morgan was appointed curate from May 1, 1914 until October 21, 1914, when he resigned to become rector and curate. *Rev. R. C. Magee was appointed curate from November 1, 1915 until he resigned at the end of the same year.

"Rev. G. S. Anderson" was appointed rector on January 8, 1914 until he resigned on April 3O, 1927. Anderson, who was later an honorary canon of Church Cathedral, proved a leader, during the war of 1914-1918. The congregation responded generously to appeal on behalf of war ties and in addition so well to parish funds that the last mortgage on the church property was discharged in October 1917. With the end of the war, considerable sums were expended in the renovation of the basement, the installation of stained glass windows and an altar to the memory of Archbishop Hamilton. In addition the parishioners started a fund known as the New Church Building Fund. "Rev. Gerald C. Clark" was appointed curate from January 1, 1918 until the spring of 1920. Rev. Earl Ryder was appointed curate from 1920 until 1925 when he left to become rector at Lunenburg.

The Right Reverend J. C. Hoper, D.D. Bishop at 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 Hoper 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.

"Rev. R. J. Turley", later Archdeacon, was appointed assistant rector of St Matthew's and Incumbent of St Peter's Mission from May, 1922 until June 10, 1923, having been appointed rector of Holy, Ottawa South. St Peter's Mission was founded as a result of the work of the St Matthew's branch of the Brotherhood of St. Andrew. "Rev. Frank" was appointed curate from 1923 until April 30, 1927, when he returned to England appealing that the increasing work of the growing parish was too heavy for one who had devoted 40 years of his life to the work of the Anglican Church. "Rev. Alan Gardner" was appointed curate from May 1927 until September 3O, 1930, when he resigned to accept a parish on the east coast.

"Rev. Robert Jefferson" B.A. B.D, then rector of the Church of the Ascension (Ottawa) was appointed rector at St. Matthew's in May 1927, and inducted on May 1927. There were 235 families in the parish (about 900 people) with 250 children in the Sunday school. The parish had its 50th anniversary that year. Four years later the present edifice was built on Carling Avenue near Bank Street, with one of the largest congregations in the Ottawa diocese. Rt Rev Robert Jefferson, third Anglican Bishop of Ottawa diocese, was consecrated third Anglican Bishop of Ottawa diocese Nov 30, 1939. His wife was a member of St Matthew's choir for many years, honorary president of St. Anna's Guild, the Senior Women's Auxiliary and the Junior Women's Auxiliary. In April she was made a life member of the St Matthew's branch of the Women's Auxiliary.

First Avenue at Bank Street

Even with several additions this structure proved too small and in the late 1920s a fundraising effort to build the new church was launched. The church edifice in which the congregation worshipped for more than 30 years accommodation for about 100 worshippers. In 1928, Frank H. Plant, who had been a member of the church since his boyhood, offered to give $133,000 towards the building of a new church provided the congregation contributed a similar sum within a year. The response by the congregation was so enthusiastic that the stipulated sum was soon promised. Work on a new church on First Avenue at Bank Street costing some $300,000 began in 1928. Cecil Burgess, an old St Matthews member; was chosen architect for the complex of three interconnected buildings clad in Indiana limestone: Church, Chapel and Parish Hall. The sod was turned by Bishop John Charles Roper on May 4, 1828. On July 6 of 1929, Bishop John Charles Roper laid the foundation stone at the eastern end of the church in the presence of a large assembly of clergy .

The church held fundraisers including an annual two-day Bazar opened by Bishop of Ottawa in November 21–22, 1928. The work on the new church was only half-finished when the stock market collapsed in 1929 and the sources of funding dried up. St. Matthew’s Anglican Church was constructed during the Great Depression between 1929 and 1930. The church was forced to go deeply into debt to complete the structure, a debt that was not paid off until 1962.

The church is constructed on the orthodox cruciform plan with a modified English Gothic interior. The stone is Indiana limestone and its roof is slate. The parish hall, which was opened on November 28, 1930 was renamed Jefferson Hall in 1954. Parr. W. Larkin, former rector at Montague Ont, was appointed curate in 1930. His Lordship, Rt. Rev. John Charles Roper, Bishop of Ottawa opened and dedicated the new St. Matthew's on December 21, 1930. The Governor General and the Viscountess Willingdon attended the first services commencing at 11 o'clock. Bishop Roper was assisted by Rev. Archdeacon C. O. Carson, of Morrisburg, and the Rural Dean of Ottawa, Rev. Robert I. Turley, of Holy Trinity Church, Ottawa South. A number of clergy, including former rector of St Matthews Church, were invited to attend the dedication. The preacher was Canon Walter Loucks, then rector of Holy Trinity, Toronto. Rev. Canon Robert Jefferson. B A. B.D. was appointed in May 1930. Parr. W. Larkin, former rector at Montague Ont, was appointed curate in 1930. The attendance at both morning and evening services were exceptionally heavy. Special Music was arranged by the choir and organist for both morning and evening services. During the morning dedication the communion service by Nuna in C Sharp and the anthem “How Lovely Are thy Dwellings" by Brahma, were sung. In the evening “Stand Lord's Magnificat” and the anthem were sung. Following the evening service the organist, Mr. Sharpe, conducted a snort recital for which the program Included "Now Thank We All Our God" by Karg-Elert, Voluntary in C minor by Dr. Maurice, and March on a theme of Handel.

The service of dedication was broadcast for the benefit of many members of the congregation who it is known will be prevented from attending through sickness or other infirmity. Regular service were also broadcast from time to time.

The building and finance committee responsible for the erection of the new edifice and hall adjoining in 1930 was composed of the following members of the congregation:

The church was immediately north of the edifice in which the congregation had worshipped since July, 1888. The intention was to demolish the initial building sometime in the future and to level the site.

British Empire Economic Conference delegates attended services at St. Matthew's Anglican Church (Ottawa) 7/26/1932.

A stained glass window by William Thomas Powis at Colonial Art Glass depicting a Jesus as a young boy, Joseph as a carpenter and Mary as a weaver dedicated "to the glory of God and in loving memory of Bessie Frances Margaret Harton, was erected by her husband and daughter A.D 1938".

The Orangemen, members of the various Ottawa, Westboro and Billings Bridge Lodges as well as lodges from outlying towns paraded from the Orange Hall, Gloucester Street to St Matthew's Church on July 10, 1938.

"Rev. W. H. Bradley" was appointed curate in 1941. "Rev. Gilbert Alexis Brunet" served as rector of St. Matthew's parish from January, 1940 until he was appointed a Canon of the Cathedral in January, 1942. In his rector report 1942, Canon Brunet said: "Financially this has been one of the most successful years in the history of the parish. Our attendance at the services during the past year has been good but there is much room for improvement. There is a danger in a well organized parish to imagine that our religious duties end with whatever work we do in this or that organization. This is a fatal mistake. The work we do for our church is splendid but by itself is not religion.”

The Bishop of Ottawa, Rt Rev Robert Jefferson dedicated a memorial stained glass window by Colonial Art Glass given in memory of Lieutenant Harold C. Fisher by his wife and parents, Mr and Mrs Harold Fisher at an All Saints Day service on Nov 1, 1945. The Bishop also dedicated 25 tubular Chimes given by Mrs. A.E. Low in memory of her late husband Archie Edgar Low.

St Matthew's Anglican Church, Carling Avenue, celebrated its 50th anniversary of the founding of the parish with a series of services extending through the month of October which concluded with the visit of the Primate of all Canada, Most Rev. O. F. Kingston, DD. on Tuesday, October 28, 1948. The first service of the series had as their theme ‘The Church of the Future’ and featured the Sunday school, the Cubs, Brownies and Guides. In his sermon, Canon Brunet spoke of the value of the home and of teachers in the forming of the minds of the boys and girls who would make up the church of the future and declared that those who formed the church today were educationalists.

Jesus "Feeding the Multitude" (1935) by Robert McCausland Limited is a stained glass window dedicated "to the Glory of God and in loving memory of E. May Nicholas, beloved wife of George Albert Clark who died 14th December 1952, which was erected by her husband and her children Catherine and George."

The Bishop of Ottawa, Rt Rev Robert Jefferson dedicated 'The crown of life' (1945) stained glass window by Colonial Art Glass to Lieut. Harold C Fisher, who died in World War II. The window depicts the figure of a youthful soldier in medieval costume kneeling at the feet of a male Angel, resting his sword, with head bent in reverence and humility in the presence of a female Angel who holds the Crown of Life. The window bears the inscription: "Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give to thee the Crown of Life" [Revelation 2:10] "In loving memory of Lieut. Harold C. Fisher, aged 27 years, Killed in Action in Holland Oct 9th 1944. Erected by his parents & his wife."

In April 1955, St Matthew's auxiliary held a spring tea in Jefferson Hall

The white ensign of HMCS Huron, Tribal Class Destroyer was dedicated during a Battle of the Atlantic Sunday service in St Matthew's Anglican Church in May 1957. It was presented to the rector, Rev R. Eric Osborne on behalf of former members of the ship's company during English actions.

Rt Rev E.S. Reed, Bishop of Ottawa, Ven Archdeacon R. Eric Osborne and Rt Rev Robert Jefferson congratulated the parish for freeing the church of 31 years of debt during a thankful service of consecration on January 25, 1962. The church building was built for $300,000 in 1929. Were St Matthew's Church and Jefferson Hall built in 1962, it is estimated it would cost at least $1,000,000 to duplicate.

In September, 1962 a historic display of sacred altar furnishings from the earliest days of the Anglican Church of Canada was opened in Jefferson Hall by Mrs E.S. Reed, wife of the Bishop of Ottawa. The display was sponsored by the Anglican Ottawa Diocesan Altar Guild jointly with the Altar Guild of St Matthew's Church.

The Anglican church ordained its first six women priests on Nov. 30, 1976. At St. Matthew's Church marked the 25th anniversary of the ordination of women priests by the ordination of four priests, one of them a woman - Rev. Andrea Christensen, Rev. Lee Lambert, Rev. David Shields and Rev. Scott Whitfield.

Before becoming the Seventh Bishop of Ottawa in 1993-1999, Rt. Rev. John Baycroft had been assistant rector at St.Matthew's Church, Ottawa. Before becoming the Eighth bishop of Ottawa 1999-2007, Rt Rev Peter Coffin served as an assistant curate at St. Matthew’s Church.

The Rev. Canon Pat Johnston, formerly Diocesan Archdeacon and Executive Assistant to the Bishop of Ottawa for 6 years, has served as the Incumbent of St. Matthew’s, Ottawa, since 2006.

On October 13, 2013, an auction which included live and silent auctions, the “Silver Vaults”, the arts café & wine bar, the tea room & live entertainment was a fundraiser for St. Matthew’s new roof & Multifaith Housing.

Extensive restoration work by Robertson Martin Architects, received an Ottawa Architectural Conservation Certificate of Merit. The church is known for musical excellence, with several notable boy choristers, namely Gerald Finley, Daniel Taylor and Matthew White, who have achieved international acclaim.

On Sunday, November 9, 2014, Glebe Collegiate Institute and Lisgar Collegiate Institute students researched and presented the lives of St. Matthew's parishioners Harold Burgess (Lisgar) and Harold Fisher (Glebe) who were killed in action in the First and Second World Wars.

Memorials, Thanksgivings and other gifts

Memorials:

Scouts

The 26th St Matthew's Boy Scout Troop was founded in 1933.

The Scouts Annual Concert, which was well attended by parents and friends, was presided over by Major A.G. Fisher, Chairman of the Scouts Committee in June 1935. Proceeds of the concert were donated to the Camp Fund; The camp was held in the early part of the month of July, 1935.

To mark the opening of Boy Scout Week, 1945 special services were held attended by upwards of 86 Scouts and Cubs of the 26th St. Matthew's Scout Group who presented a troop flag to the 1st Combermere, St Paul's Anglican Church Scout Troop in Combermere, Ontario. The sermon was preached by Rev. Leon Adams, incumbent at Combermere and scoutmaster of the Combermere troop who thanked the St. Matthew's Group for its good deed. "All scouts", he said, "were members of the 'Good Deeders Club' and must show a good deed to the world at this time in remodelling it into the new order for which men were living and dying for today". Rev. Eric Osborne, assistant at St. Matthew's, dedicated the flag and presented it to King's Scout Fred Kempster who in turn presented it to the scoutmaster of the new Combermere troop. Special music, which included a Boy Scout hymn, was sung. Rev. Leon Adams was accompanied by two members of the Combermere troop.

The Scouts of 26th St Matthew's parish Ottawa became 26th Ottawa Sea Scout Troop in 1947.

The Scouts of 26th St Matthew's parish Ottawa dedicated and presented two Boy Scout Flags to the First St. Thomas Troop of St. Thomas Anglican Church in St John's, Newfoundland and Labrador. The Two Colours were dedicated by the Chaplain the Rev. T Edward Downey on May 9, 1949. The King's Colors were the gift of Whitely J. Eastwood. The flags were presented by the Skipper, George W.T. Ashe to Harold R. Pippy, who represented the St Thomas parish in Newfoundland, where the Colours were sent.

On April 30, 1950 another flag was presented to the 29th St. Helen Troop, of St. Helen's Anglican Church, Vancouver at an impressive ceremony at St. Matthew's Church. The service was attended by the Sea Scout Troop of St. Matthew's, the flag was dedicated by the troop leader Rev. T. E. Downey, who returned it to the acting scoutmaster Mr. J.W. Cowan. Scout master Cowan then presented it to Ken Jordan, executive commissioner of Boy Scouts for British Columbia. Mr. Jordan took it to Vancouver and in May, 1950 it was formally presented to the St. Helen's Troop by Hon. Byron Johnson, Premier of British Columbia. The sermon was preached by Rev. T. X. Downey was his last as assistant at Matthew's who took over as rector of Navan "Honor, all men, love the brotherhood, serve the King."

The 26th St Matthew's Sea Scout Troop celebrated the 22nd anniversary in Jefferson Hall, St. Matthew's Church on Mar 1, 1955.

Scouts, Guides, Cubs & Brownies attended their annual church parade and special service at St Matthew's on Feb 25, 1962. Boy Scout week was observed at St Matthew's Church with a special service attended by the 26th Ottawa Sea Scout Troop, 26th Ottawa Wolf Cub Pack, 52nd Girl Guides and 25th and 52nd Brownies on Feb 24, 1963.

Music

Music has been an integral part of life and worship at St Matthew's since the start of the 20th century. The church today is best known for its music.

St. Matthew's church is using their fourth organ. The first one had foot power; the second was a pipe organ run by water power; next a Casavant Frères pipe organ which was moved to the new church, then, on Sept. 22, 1957, their War Memorial Organ, built in England by Wm. Hill and Son, and Norman and Beard Ltd., was dedicated.

St. Matthew's men and boys' choir was formed by Gerald Wheeler, a British organist and musical director who came to Canada in 1956. Several months after his arrival, the women choir members of St. Matthew's then mixed choir were dismissed. Under Wheeler and his successors, the men and boys' choir grew to become one of the most important in Canada. In 1965, Brian Law was appointed organist-choirmaster at St Matthew's Anglican Church, where he developed the men's and boys' choir, which also gave concerts. Kirkland Adsett is currently the Director of Music at St Matthew's.

St. Matthew's follows an English choral model that involves regular practices, Sunday morning services, Evensong services and special concerts. The English Cathedral tradition presupposes that eight-to-12-year-old boys are capable of singing some of the most vocally challenging and intellectually complex music ever written. St Matthew’s is recognized for its music program in Ottawa and beyond with its Choir of Men and Boys as well as its Choir of Women and Girls which, when combined for major concerts and special services, number about 100 singers. Past music directors include Gerald Wheeler, Brian Law, Richard Dacy, Andrew Teague, Matthew Larkin, Christopher Argent, and Stephen Candow. The church is also a concert venue for many local choir concerts, and the Ottawa Chamber Music Festival. St Matthew's has produced three CDs: The Newborn King (July 2010); 50th Anniversary Concert (September 26, 2007); and Truth from Above (1966-1979)

Mission

The Mission Statement of the church reads in part "St Matthew's aspires to be a Christ-centred, nurturing parish which delights in its music ministry...and is committed to community service and partnership".

Fonds

The St. Matthew's Church (Anglican), Ottawa, Ontario fonds 1898-2002 are in the Anglican Diocese of Ottawa Archives. The fonds consists of records of the activities of St. Matthew's congregation which were donated at various times by clergy, parish officers, parishioners, and staff of St. Matthews, Ottawa. The fonds include parish registers, 1898-1988, vestry records, 1898-2001, service registers, 1901-1991. The records of committees and organizations include parish council, financial records, property records, special services and events material, correspondence, historiography, guest books, service bulletins, newsclippings, lists of parishioners, newsletters, special collections, scrapbooks, other information materials, photographs, architectural drawings, negatives, postcards, drawings, and an album.