Saint Matthew AME Church Philadelphia- History

History of Saint Matthew

1869 - 2010

In the year 1869, Roxalina Baker, Susan Boggs, Wesley Evans, Caleb Gray, Sr., Luisa Gray, Peter Kelly, Abram Selby, Samuel Smith, William Smith and Cornelius Temple began worship in the home of Peter Kelly on Chelsea Street (now Summer Street). Feeling the need for a place for communal worship, they organized; and in the Fall of 1870 they built a chapel on Race Street just east of 58th Street, naming this mission Kelly's Chapel. As an independent mission church, they continued to worship in the Chapel for seven years. In 1877, this independent mission joined the A.U.M.P. Annual Conference. Ten years later, they built a church at 58th and Vine Streets and named it St. Matthew A.U.M.P. Church where they worshipped for twenty six years. As the congregation increased they needed a larger edifice which was erected at 57th and Summer Streets, and was dedicated on November 16,1913. In the Spring of 1916, the congregation became a part of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, having been accepted by the Philadelphia Annual Conference, presided over by the late Bishop Evans Tyree.

St. Matthew A.M.E. Church steadily grew under the splendid leadership of the following pastors: Revs. B.B. Fisher, George Dickerson, E.T. Bruce, H.H. Cooper, I.H. Ringgold, J.H. Watkins, H.P. Anderson, and H.F. Tyree. For twenty three years, St. Matthew benefited from the service of these eight pastors. At the close of the Philadelphia Annual Conference in 1939, Rev. Mahlon M. Lewis was appointed as the ninth pastor of St. Matthew A.M.E. Church. Under his dynamic leadership, it was soon discovered that the twenty six year old church edifice was not large enough to maintain the activities of this "up and still growing" congregation. The decision to build the present edifice was greeted with a "pay as you go" plan by the pastor; and two years later our present structure was completed free of debt. This building was dedicated in May 1941 by Bishop David H. Sims. In 1949 Rev. Lewis was assigned to another charge. When he refused the assignment, many members went out with him to establish an independent church.

During the two years that followed, Rev. E.B. Williams served St. Matthew, and after which for four years during Rev. Roscoe .C. Henderson's tenure, St. Matthew steadily rebuilt its membership. In 1955, Rev. T. E. Harper assumed the pastorate, and under his 25 years of leadership, the church grew and regained her place not only as the first church of the West District but also as the "number one" church of the Philadelphia Annual Conference.

The tenure of Rev. Harper is highlighted by the purchase of a parsonage, installation of the 39 rank Grand Wicks pipe organ, air conditioning of the sanctuary and the securing of the property adjacent to the church to name but a few of his accomplishments.

In April 1980, Reverend Doctor George Turner Sims, Jr. was assigned to St. Matthew and served successfully for thirteen years as Shepherd. In 1981 St. Matthew was incorporated. More than three quarters of a million dollars of major improvements were achieved and paid for during this administration without any loans or indebtedness.

The erection of the 58 Unit Senior Citizen's Housing Project built diagonally across from the Church opened for occupancy to September of 1991 and remains fully occupied. The strong commitment to stewardship fostered by Doctor Sims enabled St. Matthew to become a biblically based tithing congregation.

At the 177th Session of the Philadelphia Annual Conference, Rev. George T. Sims was appointed Presiding Elder of the West District and a son of St. Matthew was appointed by Bishop Philip R. Cousin to the pastoral charge of this great congregation. The Rev. Richard Franklin Norris was assigned and took the helm of Philadelphia's largest A.M.E. congregation until his election and consecration as the 116th Bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal Church. In October 2000, Bishop Donald G. K. Ming appointed Rev. Ellis I. Washington as pastor of Philadelphia's largest African Methodist Episcopal Church, where he continues the great tradition of those who served well by leading the congregation in spiritual growth and adding significant numerical growth much of which has been by conversion. Pastor Washington has also formed a host of new ministries including the Marriage Enrichment Ministry, Singles' Ministry, Men's Ministry, Women's Ministry, Intercessory Prayer Ministry, Liturgical Dance Ministry, Praise Team and others.

Written 1991 by: Rev. Dr. George T. Sims, Jr.

Revised 1995 by: Bishop Richard F. Norris

Revised 2007 by: Rev. Ellis I. Washington