St. Matthew’s Celebrates its Bicentennial on May 24, 2026

The celebration of the 200th birthday of St. Matthew’s will be held on the Day of Pentecost, Sunday, May 24 at the 10:30 am service. A joyful potluck luncheon will follow. This is the final offering from the Bicentennial Committee which has presented programs and publications since 2024 to mark these last two centuries in this beautiful and sacred space.

On Sunday, May 24, the 10:30 am service will use the 1811 version of TheBook of Common Prayer in a format similar to what was used by St. Matthew’s members when they first worshiped in this space in 1826. Some of the hymns chosen for the service were written in the 18th & 19th centuries. FeST prayers will be presented at the Offertory to be blessed on the altar as part of the Eucharist. These prayers written on cards, were made by parishioners using FeST ornaments from the Parish Christmas tree last year. The tree and ornaments were, in themselves, in memory of the Ladies’ Sewing Circle formed following the Civil War who raised funds for church outreach and improvements to the church building through their handiwork.

The church bell will ring at the beginning of the service, but also at its close, heralding our processing out into the world to serve. It was first rung on Easter Sunday in 1878.

Following the service, a potluck luncheon will be held in the Fellowship Hall. Bring a side dish and join us! All are invited!

Other Notes:

• Between the Sacristy and the Hayden Building, nestled under the trees and beside the headstones in the churchyard is the future location of the Memorial for the Enslaved: designed and to be built to bring dignity and recognition to those who were on our rolls as baptized or confirmed and to those whose labor built our house of worship.

• Admire the restoration and rebuilding of the brick wall that surrounds and defines the property. Brick Mason, Clifton Jones is a descendent of a long line of brick masons, and may possibly be in direct lineage to those who built the original wall.

• The Archives Committee has created a timeline of the parish that is on display this month in the Education Building. This amazing photographic display covers the time period of 1752 to present, including the following:

  • 1752: The establishment of St. Matthew’s Parish in Orange County

  • 1824: 23 August, St. Matthew’s is reorganized; land given for a church to be built

  • 1825: 23 April, St. Matthew’s is accepted into union with The Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina

  • 1826: 21 May, Consecration of the church and the first service held

• A replica of the original Certificate of Organization that established St. Matthew’s dated Augusts 23, 1824 hangs in the foyer of the Parish House. Alongside the original representation hangs our Rededication Certificate, signed by the Vestry on September 22, 2024 in observance of St. Matthew’s Day (with thanks to Edward Wright for his handsome framework).

—The Bicentennial Committee: Chris Peterson, chair; Allen Cronenberg, Elaine Druesedow, Jill Hofler, Karen Ireland, Mary Rocap, Jeff Thompson, Sonja Tilley