St Matthias Halls, Wordsworth Road, London, N16 8DD
enquiries@stmatthiashalls.org.uk
 

About St Matthias

St Matthias Church is as extraordinary in its history as it is for its architecture and acoustic. From attracting controversy with its choice of architect (Sir William Butterfield was renowned for his muscular, chunky Victorian Gothic designs) and offering unreserved seating for rich and poor alike, the consecration of St Matthias in 1853 marked the beginning of a remarkable story.

The mid-19th Century building of an Anglican church near Newington Green was driven by local doctor Robert Brett because it was a ‘neighbourhood overrun with Dissent.’ St Matthias quickly became notorious for its High Church rituals, stirred demonstrations by riotous mobs against its ‘closet popery’, and yet was renowned for musical excellence, with a long tradition of distinguished organists and choirmasters.

Destitution

As the century closed, Stoke Newington’s finest houses were pulled down and replaced with terraces – and the population doubled. St Matthias – tickets for whose Sunday services were once on sale for half a crown in Bond Street – now focused on philanthropic and social work, and relief of the ‘spiritual destitution.’ 

The church halls were built in 1902 (called St Matthias Institute) by voluntary subscriptions – downstairs being used as a soup kitchen, and upstairs for classes and meetings.

Cultural hotspot

By 1913 four guilds, various church clubs and the first incarnation of the Women’s Institute were meeting here. Activities contributed to Newington Green being known as one of London’s cultural hotspots. A library was established in the1860s and one of London’s first parish magazines was published here.

Two world wars took their toll. Poverty, parishioners dying in action, the Zeppelin-bombing of local streets in 1917 and more catastrophically in 1941 almost saw the church’s total demise.  The community fought calls for demolition, and the halls were used as a temporary church, for parish activities, and to fundraise for rebuilding. St Matthias was reopened in 1954 with Grade I listing.

Musical excellence

CommunityCultureSpace Ltd has been responsible for managing the church and hall since 2016. St Matthias Halls since 2016. We support the development of community arts activities and promote the use of the spaces to local individuals and groups. CCS is determined the bells of musical excellence and cultural activity will once again ring out from St Matthias.

Historic images of St Matthias
Stained glass window St Matthias - Stoke Newington