St. Matthew’s has always been a place where the arts have thrived. We are blessed with many creative people within our midst: singers, poets, photographers, painters, writers & playwrights, potters, and musicians. We are blessed with an intellectual curiosity which provides the freedom for art to be expressed. We have the beautiful setting of our church building to offer for programs, musical events in particular.

 The Faith and the Arts Series began in the year 2010 as a result of St. Matthew's desire to be more intentional in our support of the arts themselves, rather than simply thinking of them as something providing support for other activities. We regard the gracious and hospitable use of our church as outreach to some who may not be so accustomed to being in sacred space. We hope to challenge and deepen our own faith and its expression in our lives through exposure to artistic expressions of faith and doubt.

Our 2010 Series included events with Lee Smith, Ana Hernandez, Cantari, a showing of the documentary Against the Tide with a guest appearance by Will McFarlane, Michael Malone & Maureen Quilligan's production of Guys & Dolls, and Pierce Pettis.We invite you to be present in the intersections of faith and art.







Our 2011 Series started with To Buy the Sun, a play exploring the life and legacy of Pauli Murray.  In March, we welcomed Sheila Kay Adams, a 7th generation story-teller from the mountains of NC.  Stories were paired with songs sung by the St. Matthew's Womens Singing Circle.  In June, a choral re-imaging of The Music Man, scripted by Michael Malone and narrated by Maureen Quilligan with music direction by Megan Whitted was performed to rave reviews.  In October we had Kate Campbell in Concert, a fine singer / songwriter from Nashville by way of New Orleans. 

Our 2012 Series:



Thursday, January 5, 7:30 p.m.: Old Christmas with Lee Smith & the St. Matthew’s Women’s Singing Circle

The Scotch-Irish pioneers who settled in the  hollows and hills of the Appalachian Mountains carried on many Old World traditions that harkened back into the Middle Ages. Mountain people knew the Day of Epiphany as “Old Christmas.” They regarded the Eve of Epiphany (January 5) as a night when the Holy Spirit would be manifest upon the earth in many subtle ways.

Join us in the church as Lee Smith reads her account of Old Christmas from her novel, Oral History.  The Women’s Singing Circle will sing carols and will be joined by a wonderful harpist from Chapel Hill, Ericka Patillo.

Tickets are $10 and available from the church office.

Saturday, April 21: The Messiah, St. Matthew's sEnio Choir with soloists and instrumentalists







Friday, June 1 and Saturday, June 2: a re-imagined Carousel with Michael Malone, Maureen Quilligan and the St. Matthew's Players







October, date TBA: Will McFarlane in Concert

Known as the “FeST”, St. Matthew’s celebrates the many and diversified creative talents of parishioners at the Festival of the Society Tree on the first Saturday and Sunday in December, also the weekend of the Candlelight Tour in Hillsborough.On sale will be handcrafted items and delicious foods that have been made by members of St. Matthew’s especially for this holiday sale.  The Ordinary Café will offer delicious and traditional muffins and breads, homemade soups, and warm drinks.  On Sunday as part of the Candlelight Tour docents will help tell the story of St. Matthew’s, a lovely old church filled with history and beauty.

All proceeds of the sale will go to support programs and organizations that address the needs for food, shelter, and clothing in Hillsborough and Orange County.

The event is named in honor of the efforts of the Ladies Sewing Society who in 1867 used what was then a novelty, the Christmas tree, as a way to sell their wonderful handwork. The Society raised the funds for much of the architectural additions and furnishings that still grace the historic church building. Over the course of 40 years, with the products of their hands, the ladies paid for the pipe organ as well as extensive renovations to the church building. This description is from the Society’s 1867 Minutes book:

“On the 2nd of Dec a call meeting was held to make arrangements for a Christmas Tree, which the Society hoped, would be some help….They sent $20.00 to Baltimore, which was laid out in Toys, Confectionary, and Lights….The contributions to the tree included many items of fine needlework by the Ladies of the Society, and other irregular members. Articles made included cravats, dolls, infant clothing, handkerchiefs, aprons, crosses, pincushions, tobacco bags, and cushions. The Ladies obtained picture frames, illuminated cards and fireworks. Friends also contributed; many gentlemen of the community gave items like jewelry, oranges, and pictures. Twenty dollars was spent at Mr. Brown’s store to add more articles. The Ladies put up the tree with the assistance of Col. Webb. Proceeds from the sale of items were collected over a period on months.”

The General Assembly of North Carolina originally constituted St. Matthew's Parish in 1752 as the established church in the County of Orange.  The parish was reorganized in 1824, and the present church building was begun in 1825 and completed in 1826. It was consecrated by the Right Reverend John Stark Ravenscroft, the first Episcopal Bishop of North Carolina on May 21, 1826.

Letters of the period indicate that William Nichols, principal architect of the old state capital which was burned in 1831, designed the present structure. As far as we are able to learn, St. Matthew's is the oldest Gothic Revival church building still standing in North Carolina. Nichols worked mainly in the Greek Revival idiom, but he knew Gothic work from both his native England as well as from visits to the northern United States. Nichols also designed Hillsborough's Masonic Hall (1823). He left North Carolina in 1827 to work throughout the South, and died in Mississippi in 1853. Nichols is being increasingly recognized as one of the South's finest antebellum architects.

There were others involved in the building of St. Matthew's Church.  As St. Matthew's first Senior Warden, Francis Lister Hawks, grandson of the architect of Tryon Palace, likely had a great deal of input regarding the building.  Walker Anderson, who was a member of the first vestry and who was the nephew of the great North Carolina jurist-legislator, Duncan Cameron, seems to have been the real project director.  The master mason was Samuel Hancock, under whose hand John Berry, prominent local architect/builder, learned his skills.

St. Matthew's Church has had many alterations throughout the years; the tower was added c. 1829 and under the leadership of the Rev. Moses Ashley Curtis, Rector from 1856 to 1872, extensive remodeling of the church was carried out. The east end was enlarged for a recessed chancel with triplet window, sacristy and organ room, and the exposed beam roof was raised c. 1868; the spire was added and the wainscoting was replaced c. 1875. A marble plaque in the narthex records the installation of the bell in 1878 as a Confederate Memorial. 

St. Matthew's Episcopal Church is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

The tracker-action organ, Opus number 1169, was purchased in 1883 for $1,040 from the Boston firm of Hook and Hastings. The organ is housed in an oak case and has seven ranks.  It was removed from the church building on June 2, 2004 and completely restored by John Farmer, Pipe Organ Builders of Winston-Salem, NC.  The organ returned to a newly refurbished organ room and was rededicated to God's service on May 5, 2005.

The church building was thoroughly renovated and repaired in 2007-2008 and rededicated on St. Matthew's Day, September 21, 2008.