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With help from the parish of the Church of the Advent and Episcopal families on
the west side of Spartanburg, St. Matthew's held its first service April 14,
1957 in the Knights of Pythias Hall on Victoria Road. A seven and
one-half acre site was soon donated by the Cleveland Family and the permanent
home for St. Matthew's was constructed. In June of 1959 the Reverend John
Arrington was ordained Deacon and appointed as St. Matthew's first vicar.
Since then seven vicars and rectors have led us into the twenty-first century.
In 1982, it became clear that our parish was outgrowing its facilities.
After a one week bond drive the $186,000 needed for the expansion was raised
and construction began soon after. In 2003 we again added to our physical
plant by enlarging the church nave and adding transepts. This allowed our
worship seating capacity to increase to approximately 250.
Year 2006 finds us a growing parish of over 450 communicants dedicated to the
spread of God's ministry in our community. We are a Eucharistic Church
with strong Christian education, pastoral, and mission programs and with an
enthusiastic congregation. As our mission statement expresses we are a
"...family on a journey of faith".
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