Our History

St. Matthew’s Church has been serving the community of Donnington Wood since 1845. During that time the community has grown and changed, almost beyond recognition, but St. Matthew’s has remained at its heart, bearing witness to the changeless love of God for each of us. St. Matthew’s Church may have been constant over these years, but it has by no means been changeless.

First and foremost, a Church is about people and not buildings. A Church is a living, growing and evolving organism. It is made up of people who are, from time to time, its members. It exists in the present, is influenced by the past and looks to the future. In all Churches there are influential figures, memorable characters and any number of faithful worshippers. St. Matthew’s is no exception to that now, and has never been an exception to that during its history.

However properly one concentrates upon the people who are the Church, it is difficult or even impossible to consider them apart from the building which is the focus for so much of the Church’s life. We at St. Matthew’s are blessed with a beautiful building, designed by the great Victorian architect Sir Gilbert Scott. Once again, whilst the presence of the building has remained constant over the years, it has not been without change.

In his comprehensive work, Paul Thompson has set out the results of his extensive and painstaking research into the history of St. Matthew’s. There is a vast amount of detail about the people and events which have helped to make this Church what is today. He charts the development of the building and the many parish institutions connected with St. Matthew’s.

In historical terms, this work brings us to where we are today and helps us to understand how and why St. Matthew’s has come to be as it is. Tomorrow, today will be history too, and may in the future be part of another work such as this. For the time being we are to be part of St. Matthew’s but, in years to come, those of us reading this will be part of the history of this Church. It does not belong to us – we inherit it, make it live in the present and prepare to hand it on in the future. And all to the glory of God!

David Wright
Vicar