St. Matthew's Anglican Church, Ottawa
Encyclopedia
St. Matthew's Anglican Church is an Anglican church in the Glebe
neighbourhood of Ottawa
, Canada
. Founded in 1898 to serve the growing area
it is the third oldest Anglican parish in central Ottawa after St. Alban's
and St. Bartholomew's
. The original building was a wooden structure designed by noted architect John W.H. Watts. Even with several additions this structure proved too small and in the late 1920s a fundraising effort to build the new church was launched. Work on a new church costing some $350,000 began at the end of that decade, and the architect was Cecil Burgess. The work was only half-finished when the stock market
collapsed in 1929 and the sources of funding dried up. The church was forced to go deeply into debt to complete the structure, a debt that was not paid off until 1962.
The church today is best known for its music, and it has a Casavant Frères
organ dating from 1931. Stephen Candow is the Director of Music at St. Matthew's.
St. Matthew’s is recognized for its music program in Ottawa and beyond with its Choir of Men and Boys as well as its Choir of Women and Girls which, when combined for major concerts and special services, number about 100 singers. Past music directors include Gerald Wheeler, Brian Law, Richard Dacy, Andrew Teague, Matthew Larkin, and Christopher Argent. The church is also a concert venue for many local choir concerts, and the Ottawa Chamber Music Festival
.
Music has been an integral part of life and worship at St. Matthew's since the turn of the century. The Mission Statement of the church reads in part "St. Matthew's aspires to be a Christ-centred, nurturing parish which delights in its music ministry...and is committed to community service and partnership".
The Glebe
The Glebe is a neighbourhood in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. It is located just south of Ottawa's downtown area, with its northern border being demarcated by the Queensway highway. It is bounded by the Rideau Canal to the south and east. Many maps show the western edge as Bronson Avenue, but some also...
neighbourhood of Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. Founded in 1898 to serve the growing area
it is the third oldest Anglican parish in central Ottawa after St. Alban's
St. Alban's Anglican Church (Ottawa)
St. Albans Anglican Church is an Anglican parish in the Sandy Hill neighbourhood of Ottawa, Canada. It is Ottawa's oldest surviving church building and one of its most historic. The original Gothic Revival design for the church was done by Thomas Fuller, who also designed Canada's original...
and St. Bartholomew's
St. Bartholomew's Anglican Church (Ottawa)
St. Bartholomew's Anglican Church is an Anglican Church in Ottawa, Canada. The parish was founded in 1866 and the building completed in 1868. Its architect is uncertain but believed to have been Thomas Seaton Scott who designed a number of other prominent Ottawa structures...
. The original building was a wooden structure designed by noted architect John W.H. Watts. Even with several additions this structure proved too small and in the late 1920s a fundraising effort to build the new church was launched. Work on a new church costing some $350,000 began at the end of that decade, and the architect was Cecil Burgess. The work was only half-finished when the stock market
Stock market
A stock market or equity market is a public entity for the trading of company stock and derivatives at an agreed price; these are securities listed on a stock exchange as well as those only traded privately.The size of the world stock market was estimated at about $36.6 trillion...
collapsed in 1929 and the sources of funding dried up. The church was forced to go deeply into debt to complete the structure, a debt that was not paid off until 1962.
The church today is best known for its music, and it has a Casavant Frères
Casavant Frères
Casavant Frères is a prominent Canadian company in Saint-Hyacinthe, Quebec, which has been building fine pipe organs since 1879. As of 2008, they have produced over 3800 organs.- Company history :...
organ dating from 1931. Stephen Candow is the Director of Music at St. Matthew's.
St. Matthew’s is recognized for its music program in Ottawa and beyond with its Choir of Men and Boys as well as its Choir of Women and Girls which, when combined for major concerts and special services, number about 100 singers. Past music directors include Gerald Wheeler, Brian Law, Richard Dacy, Andrew Teague, Matthew Larkin, and Christopher Argent. The church is also a concert venue for many local choir concerts, and the Ottawa Chamber Music Festival
Ottawa Chamber Music Festival
Ottawa Chamberfest is a music festival held by the Ottawa Chamber Music Society in Ottawa, Canada.-Artists:In 1994, the idea of a chamber music festival in Ottawa came to life to remedy the meager availability of live classical music during the summer months and fill the city’s churches with...
.
Music has been an integral part of life and worship at St. Matthew's since the turn of the century. The Mission Statement of the church reads in part "St. Matthew's aspires to be a Christ-centred, nurturing parish which delights in its music ministry...and is committed to community service and partnership".