“English Gothic” whispers from the very stones of Saint Matthews and Saint Joseph’s Episcopal Church. This Detroit landmark stands as a testament to faith and architectural beauty. We stand here at 8850 Woodward Avenue where history echoes.
Saint Matthews and Saint Joseph’s Episcopal Church wasn’t always one entity. Its story is one of mergers and evolving communities. To understand this church we must delve into the histories of two congregations.
Let’s start with St. Matthew’s Mission founded in 1846. William Lambert and others from Second Baptist Church established it. This mission played a vital role in Detroit’s Black community. It acted as a station on the Underground Railroad. Fleeing slaves found refuge here on their journey to Canada. The Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 caused membership to dwindle. The mission liquidated its assets in 1864. But the spirit of St. Matthew’s was not extinguished.
In 1880, the mission was revived and formal ties were established. They first held services in a rented hall. A permanent home was erected in 1883. However, freeway construction disrupted the community in Paradise Valley. Membership declined again and St. Matthew’s faced an uncertain future.
Now let’s turn our attention to St. Joseph’s Episcopal Church. Mrs. Lucetta Medbury gifted a commemorative chapel in 1883. This chapel evolved into St. Joseph’s Memorial Mission. The parish relocated to this corner of Holbrook Street and Woodward Avenue in 1926.
James Nettleton designed this English Gothic building. He was a member of the St. Joseph’s congregation. Nettleton was a graduate of Cornell University’s architecture program.
Inside Saint Matthews and Saint Joseph’s Episcopal Church you can find a carved oak reredos. The wainscoting shows twenty scenes of Christ’s life. These carvings and paneled ceilings display the history of the Christian Church. The floors are Pewabic tile. Stained glass windows add color.
The church also features a Skinner organ installed in 1927. All of these features enhance the beauty of Saint Matthews and Saint Joseph’s Episcopal Church.
By the late 1960s both St. Matthew’s and St. Joseph’s were struggling. So under the leadership of Reverend Quintin E. Primo Jr., merger talks began. In 1971, St. Matthew’s and St. Joseph’s merged. St. Matthew’s congregation moved into St. Joseph’s facility.
Today Saint Matthews and Saint Joseph’s Episcopal Church stands as a testament. It represents the strength and resilience of its community. The church was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.
As you leave Saint Matthews and Saint Joseph’s Episcopal Church consider its layered history. Think about the people who shaped its story. Think about the challenges they overcame. This English Gothic building on Woodward Avenue is more than just a church. It’s a Detroit landmark, a symbol of faith, community, and architectural beauty.