{"id":247,"date":"2024-11-06T20:01:15","date_gmt":"2024-11-06T20:01:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/stmattsblm.org\/wp2\/?page_id=247"},"modified":"2025-04-03T16:28:27","modified_gmt":"2025-04-03T16:28:27","slug":"history-of-st-matthews","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/stmattsblm.org\/wp2\/history-of-st-matthews\/","title":{"rendered":"History of St. Matthew’s"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

A Brief History of St. Matthew’s<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Deacon John W. Bowman, minister in charge, and five communicants met in July of 1853 to organize the first Episcopal Church in Bloomington, Illinois.  The congregation met in various rented quarters for twelve years until it purchased the Congregationalist\u2019s Church in downtown Bloomington in 1865.  Soon thereafter, an organ and a rectory were purchased and the church began to grow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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During the late 1870\u2019s the communicant list grew to 376 and a larger building was needed.  St. Matthew\u2019s bought land and built a church in the downtown area.  A series of rectors oversaw the growth of the church and a spiritual revival.  This church building provided a wonderful home for the congregation until the early 1950\u2019s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Reverend F. H. O. Bowman served St. Matthew\u2019s as Rector from April, 1945 until his death in December, 1967.  It was his untiring work and devotion that led to a period of growth and development.  Although the parish felt a need for a new church building as early as 1942, World War II and post war reconstruction slowed these efforts.  After a significant capital campaign and many years of hard work the present building at 1920 East Oakland Avenue was completed in 1955.  The first service was held on October 2, 1955 and a dedication occurred two weeks later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the tenth Sunday after Trinity, July 31, 1853, St. Matthew\u2019s Church, Bloomington, Illinois, was organized with five communicants. The Reverend John W. Bowman was the minister in charge, being a deacon. After divine service, the Reverend Charles P. Clarke, rector of Christ Church, Ottawa, met with those interested in organizing an Episcopal church in Bloomington. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Needless to say, the new location combined with an enthusiastic congregation allowed many ministries to flourish.\u00a0 Members of St. Matthew\u2019s along with the Department of Mission Strategy of the Diocese of Springfield decided to establish a mission in Normal to support the church\u2019s ministry to the universities.\u00a0 About 60 members of St. Matthew\u2019s volunteered to become the congregation of the new Christ the King Church, which still exists in Normal.\u00a0 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The priests following Fr. Bowman largely brought both dependability and longevity to their pastorates. This was especially true of the ministries of the most recent rectors, Fr. Howard Bowlin and following him, Fr. Dave Halt. Both brought pastoral stability to their cures, staying 10 years, respectively. Our current rector, Father Thomas Reeves, began his ministry with us in August 2021.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In July 2023, our church celebrated its 170th year as an established parish. As we look to the future, we hope to build on the faithful ministry and Kingdom-of-God work that has been accomplished in our past for the Glory of God. It is our belief and desire that our Lord goes ahead of us in the Bloomington-Normal area as we seek to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ in both word and deed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Extended History<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you’d like to learn more about the history of St. Matthew’s, please use this link<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A Brief History of St. Matthew’s Deacon John W. Bowman, minister in charge, and five communicants met in July of 1853 to organize the first Episcopal Church in Bloomington, Illinois.  The congregation met in various rented quarters for twelve years until it purchased the Congregationalist\u2019s Church in downtown Bloomington in 1865.  Soon thereafter, an organ … <\/p>\n

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