Parish ProfileSt. MatthewSt. John, the Evangelist

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."

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.

The large, vividly coloured window is a source of inspiration to all who worship. It is the focal point of the whole church.

The lectern 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.

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.

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.