Saint Matthew’s Church

What secrets does a triangular plot of land hold? Here at Saint Matthew’s Church in Cheltenham, the answer unfolds. Saint Matthew’s Church isn’t just a place of worship. It’s a testament to a community’s evolving faith. A faith that first took root in 1865 when the Cheltenham Parish was established. The congregation initially gathered in a humble brick church completed in 1867. This original structure bore witness to baptisms, marriages, and burials, marking the significant moments in the lives of the early settlers. As the community grew, so did Saint Matthew’s. In 1905, a new chancel and sanctuary were added. The foundation stone, laid by the Bishop of Melbourne himself, marked this important expansion. Later, in 1932, further additions were designed by the church architect Louis Williams. But time and growth demanded more than expansions. The old buildings, though rich in history, became costly to maintain and unable to accommodate the expanding congregation. A bold decision was made. The old vicarage was demolished, land was sold, and a new vision for Saint Matthew’s began to take shape. The new Saint Matthew’s Church arose on the triangular corner of Nepean Highway and Park Road. Architects Chancellor and Patrick were tasked with creating a modern structure, distinct from its more traditional predecessor. The result was a striking building of split-face concrete blocks and dark-stained cedar window trims. Natural light floods the interior through clear window panes, offering views of a peaceful memorial garden. The roof, a dramatic pyramid shape, reaches towards the sky with perspex skylights. Inside, exposed concrete beams with quartz aggregate create a unique, almost industrial feel. The architects envisioned the interior as a vast tent, with plasterboard seams enhancing this effect. A unique feature of Saint Matthew’s is its triangular chapel. This space provides a quiet sanctuary for smaller services and personal reflection. It also houses treasured artifacts from the old church. Candles memorialize two children lost to the 1943 typhoid epidemic, and a silver communion set, gifted in 1859, connects the present congregation to the earliest days of the community. In 1966, the new Saint Matthew’s Church was dedicated. Just a year later, it was recognized as one of Victoria’s top ten buildings. Its unique design, blending the modern with the historical, continues to serve the community of Cheltenham, echoing the enduring power of faith and community.