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St. Matthew, Bay Roberts
Special Concert by New York's Harlem Gospel Choir
St. Matthew's Church
August 28th, 2006 Tickets are available through special events committee members or the church office, 709-786-3024.
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St.
Matthew's Anglican Church, Bay Roberts, is a beautifully imposing
structure, sitting atop Church Hill., Its cornerstone was
place on July, 12, 1911, and it was consecrated on October
24, 1916.
The
present church, consecrated by the Rt. Rev. Llewelyn Jones,
Bishop of Newfoundland, boasts a rich and colourful history
and is the third for the congregation, all bearing the same
name. The first St. Matthew's, also the first church for the
community, was started in 1824, "on rising ground in front
of Mercer's Cove."
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St.
Matthew's Church
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Ornately
Decorative Dome in Nave
Built by the Late Samuel Greenland
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The
present building, with seating for 1,100, is one of the largest
wooden churches in the province and with the exception of
painting and lighting, few changes have been made to its original
structure.
Fine
timber furnishings, some built by local craftsman, more imported
and many donated in memory of loved ones, add grace, beauty
and dignity to this grand spiritual building.
Its
rerodos, dedicated during the ministry of the Rev'd Guy Fowlow,
1945 - 1955, were made from an oak tree, taken from the old
rectory garden in Mercer's Cove.
A
Shearstown master carpenter, the late Solomon Badcock, cut,
trimmed, shaped and made the rerodos in his Shearstown carpenter
shop. St. Matthew's ornately decorative dome in its nave was
built by the late Samuel Greenland, Coley's Point.
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church sanctuary also houses a beautiful stained glass window
depicting the Ascension.
The
large, vividly coloured window (illustrated on the left) is
a source of inspiration to all who worship. It is the focal
point of the whole church.
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Ascension
Stained Glass Window
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Angel
Lectern
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The
lectern (illustrated on the left) is visible below the Ascension
stained glass window.
It
is designed as an angel whose upstretched arms hold the Bible.
The beauty of
the intricately designed pulpit, illustrated below, matches
that of the lectern. The most prominent figure is that of
an angel with outreaching hands.
Carvel
Pulpit
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Pipe Organ, Built by Philip H. Selfe, Hull, Quebec
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A
single-manual pipe organ (illustrated on the left) was built
by Philip H. Selfe, Hull, Quebec. It was installed in 1912.
During
services, its majestic tones fill the church with stirring
music.
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Baptismal
Font
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The
baptismal area (which is illustrated on the left and right)
is located at the back of the church.
It is spacious and brightly lit with direct sunlight."Suffer
the Little Children Come Unto Me," is printed on the arch
above the font.
Baptismal
Area
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Seven clergy served in the Bay Roberts mission (1837-1906), nineteen
clergy have served as rectors of the Parish of Bay Roberts(1906
- 2000).
--Based on a much larger article by Emily Dyckson, a parishioner
and editor of The Anchor, our parish newsletter.
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