Church History

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What is the Episcopal Church?

Our tradition is a blending of evangelical and catholic (Eastern and Western) Christianity in which Christians of all traditions may find a home and where each tradition enriches and fulfills the others.

The Episcopal Church is part of the worldwide Anglican Communion, “a fellowship within the one, holy, catholic, and apostolic church, of those duly constituted regional churches in communion with the see of Canterbury” in England.  We “uphold and propagate the catholic and apostolic faith and order as set forth in The Book of Common Prayer,…bound together not by a central authority, but by mutual loyalty sustained by the common counsel of the bishops in conference.”  Those words are from a resolution by the Lambeth Conference of 1930, a gathering of Anglican and Episcopal bishops from throughout the world. 

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St. Matthew's Church History

The first Episcopal Church Service in Enid was celebrated over a century ago. The Cherokee Strip, in which Enid is located, was opened for settlement on September 16, 1893.

Enid was founded on that date and within 24 hours the Right Reverend Frances Key Brooke, Missionary Bishop to Oklahoma and The Indian Territories, celebrated Holy Eucharist. The Bishop conducted service while standing in a wagon. It was reported that a "large and respectable number of people" participated in one of three Christian services celebrated on that first Sunday after the opening of the Cherokee Strip.

Bishop Brooke and interested people of Enid organized St. Matthew's as a mission church eight months later in May 1894. There was also an Episcopal Church in North Enid called St. Thomas. It initially had more members than St. Matthew's, but there is no record of its existence after 1900.

(First officials of "O" County, later Garfield County, and Probate Court House where St. Matthew's congregation held services in 1896.)

During its early years St. Matthew's congregation was very small, but the devoted few met in homes, store, other buildings and even in the probate court.

In 1900, a lot was purchased and a building was planned. The Ladies Guild fundraisers were the main source of construction financing.

(1902 - Original Church Building)

Bishop Brooke consecrated St. Matthew's in 1902 when the first building was completed. It was an extremely plain design, and was furnished with only a few pews. A dry goods box served as the alter and two soapboxes formed a lectern. But, the two dozen communicants were true and St. Matthew's carried on.

(1910 - Church with Brick Veneer)

The original church building was sold and moved from the site in 1909. This made it possible for the present structure to be placed on the same lot where it stands today. Since then church has expanded several times both in physical size and attendance. In 1929 St. Matthew's was established as a parish church.

(1923 - Church with Tower and Stucco Parish House)

(1948 - After Tower Removal and Narthex Construction)

(1955 - Stucco Parish House razed.
New Parish House with Cloister added.)

(1980 - Parish House facilities
Picture taken by Lisa Bland Selix.)

St. Matthew's has always prospered from the talents and passions of its own membership. Through the years many auxiliary groups have been formed to take care of the needs of our community.

In addition to the traditional Episcopal Church activities (choir, altar guild, children's Christian education), St. Matthew's continues to have many outreach programs both for our own church community as well as for the people of Enid. Included in this is our Bookshop located in the atrium. It is open during the week and on Sundays after that 10:30 a.m. service. The Bookshop is run by volunteers and has a variety of interesting items for purchase. Proceeds from the Bookshop have been used to fund other outreach programs within the church.

Centering Prayer, a St. Matthew's prayer circle, organizes monthly Labyrinth walks, which are open to the public. Our portable canvas eleven circuit canvas labyrinth has also been used at Camp Start, as well as conferences for educators, health care workers and senior citizen groups. The prayer circle also organizes fund raising activities to support a meditation garden, which is planned for the northwest area of the church grounds.

We continue to have an active Guild of the Christ Child. Founded at St. Barnabas' Episcopal Church in 1990, the Guild of the Christ Child is a diocesan-wide ministry, which seeks to help mothers who lack the basic clothing for their newborns. The Guild at St. Matthew's provides newborn layettes to the birth centers of both St. Mary's and Integris Bass Hospitals and for Teen Moms, a ministry of Youth for Christ.

Parish activities provide wonderful fellowship opportunities for our church community. Monthly potlucks are held the fourth Sunday of each month. Youth activities are coordinated throughout the year. One of our annual highlights is our Heritage Sunday Church Service and Potluck held in the original Episcopal Church building which is now located in Humphrey Village Museum in Enid.

St. Matthew's opens its doors to the community. We support Habitat for Humanity Worldwide Ministry by providing administrative support and financial assistance. Members of the parish serve on several boards and committees, as well as helping out on the construction area.

Others using our facility include the Junior Welfare League, a music school and an art studio.

St. Matthew's newest outreach is Park Avenue Thrift.