St Matthew

 

St Matthew’s was built in the 1880s in the Victorian age and is a Grade 2 listed building of the early English style and built with Ancaster stone. 

Thanks to the 9th Earl of Scarborough it is uniquely placed in the centre of a roundabout. The Earl donated the land for the church when he laid out his plans for the town. He wanted the church to be the focal point of the town and its spiritual centre.

That was fine when the fastest vehicle was horse-drawn, today getting to church can be more exciting than he intended! 

The church stands within sight of the pier and the main shopping area.

There is an average congregation of 60 but in the recent Christmas period up to 150 attended the services. We have the pleasure of seeing the church filled with youngsters as the local schools hold various Carol services and also for their Harvest services and others connected to the curriculum.

We are the Mission Church for the Group.

The organ built by Rushworth and Draper is recognised as one of the best in the country.
We have a loop sound system and surprisingly a Steinway grand piano that is used by pianists of all ages in community concerts. 
On a sunny day the church is bathed in colour from our stained glass windows, which include one by Comper that depicts St Francis of Assisi. The east windows are memorials to the 9th and 10th Earls of Scarborough and date from 1948, replacing others that were war damaged. The town War Memorial stands in the church grounds and is used by increasing numbers during the annual Remembrance Service. The Civic Service being held in St Matthew’s, known to all as the ‘Church on the Roundabout’.

We hold Baptism and Confirmation classes.