St Matthew-in-the-City

As Auckland expanded in the 1840s, residential and commercial buildings sprung up to the west of Queen Street. To serve the Anglicans amongst the growing population, George Selwyn, New Zealand's first Anglican bishop, acquired land from the Crown in 1843 at the corner of Hobson and Wellesley Street. Anglican worship began in 1853 in the timber school building from which Selwyn first conducted services. In 1855 Selwyn appointed the designer of Old St Paul's, Wellington, the Reverend Frederick Thatcher, as vicar of the new parish of St Matthew's. On 13 July, 30 people met in the school room to constitute the new parish. A wooden Gothic Revival church was built in 1863. It has a peal of eight bells, most of which were made in 1862, rung in the change ringing style by members of The Australian and New Zealand Association of Bellringers. == Ministry ==

As central Auckland became increasingly commercial the population in the parish declined. St Matthew's took on more of a role as church to the commercial and civic life of the city, a role it continues today. The church's size, location, style and musical tradition have made it a natural place for civic services to be held. Typical were a memorial service for Prime Minister Richard Seddon and for the silver jubilee of King George V in 1935. In two world wars, St Matthew's held services to farewell troops and to offer thanksgiving for their return. In recent years, St Matthew's has held civic memorial services for the victims of AIDS and the Air New Zealand Flight 901 disaster on Mount Erebus. Because its location frequently brought it into contact with the poor, even in its early days, St Matthew's developed a strong social justice ministry. A leader in the protests against apartheid in South Africa during the 1981 Springbok Tour and sponsorship in 1974 of the Auckland Community Church, a congregation ministering to gays and lesbians established it as a strong voice for human rights. In 1996 Nelson Mandela recognised that voice by coming to St Matthew's to thank New Zealand for its important role in ending apartheid. The church has a pro-gay marriage stance and, after New Zealand legalised gay marriage, put out the call for gay couples to be married there. The Rev'd Glynn Cardy, a former archdeacon and last vicar, resigned on 5 October 2013, and is now the Minister of a Presbyterian Church. The Rev'd Helen Jacobi was inducted, the first woman vicar of St Matthew's. In December 2009 a billboard put up by the church showing Mary and Joseph in bed together drew global media attention as well as criticism from other churches.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/8417963.stm == Gallery ==

File:Baptistery, St Matthew-in-the-City.jpg|Baptistery File:Altar, St Matthew-in-the-City.jpg|Altar File:Nave towards entry, St Matthew-in-the-City.jpg|Nave, looking towards entry File:Peace Chapel, St Matthew-in-the-City.jpg|The Peace Chapel File:St Thomas's Chapel, St Matthew-in-the-City.jpg|St Thomas's Chapel File:Epistle-side aisle, St Matthew-in-the-City.jpg|Epistle-side aisle File:Eagle lectern, St Matthew-in-the-City.jpg|Eagle lectern File:Pulpit, St Matthew-in-the-City.jpg|Pulpit File:Ceiling, St Matthew-in-the-City.jpg|The ceiling File:Chancel ceiling, St Matthew-in-the-City.jpg|The chancel ceiling File:Choir stalls, St Matthew-in-the-City.jpg|Choir stalls File:Restoration plaque, St Matthew-in-the-City.jpg|Restoration plaque ==References==