History of Our Parish
St. James and The Church at Glenwood - When World War II ended in the mid 1940s, many tracts of land were developed into housing communities, including the land surrounding the Roseland Golf course. On November 20, 1949, Bishop George N. Luxton issued the establishment of the Parish of St. James church, Roseland. The parish grew so rapidly that in 1954, permission was granted to start a branch Anglican Sunday School at Glenwood Public School.
The Parish Church of St. Matthew - In 1955, due to high enrolment at Glenwood and the overcrowded conditions at St. James, a second Anglican worship location was to be established. On February 12, 1956, a meeting was convened to organize the new parish.
The appointed rector, The Rev’d Grant Darling, arrived to take over his new charge. The name of the church was chosen by ballot on June 17, 1956 from several names suggested by the congregation. The name St. Matthew received the most votes. The foundation stone was laid on Tuesday August 20, 1957 by Suffragan Bishop William A. Townshend and attended by several ministers. The first service in the new Parish Hall was held on November 24, 1957. On Sunday December 9, 1957, Bishop Luxton dedicated the Parish Hall and consecrated the Sacred Vessels and Ornaments.
In March of 1961, The Rev’d A. Donald Munro came to St. Matthew’s as its second rector. Church activities and enrollment flourished. A new program for building a church and a rectory started in 1964; the church building was completed by February of 1967, and the service of dedication was held on March 3, 1967. Officiating was The Rt. Rev’d G.N. Luxton, Bishop of Huron, assisted by The Rt. Rev’d Carmen J. Queen, Bishop of St. Clair and Suffragan Bishop of Huron, and The Rev’d A.D. Munro. Sadly, Father Munro passed away the following year, and was buried from St. Matthew’s in the afternoon of June 20, 1968.
The Rev’d Ray Farrell’s ministry comprised the years 1968 until 1971.
The Rev’d Canon Bill Millman’s term, from 1971 to 1993, included the arrival of our current pastoral musician, Mike Ricketts in 1975, and the celebration of St. Matthew’s 25th Anniversary in 1980.
The Rev’d Canon Stephen Bradley Harnadek became our rector in 1993. Rev’d Cathy MacKendrick and Rev’d John McAvoy were ordained deacons in 1996, and Rev’d Bob Chandler in 2003. In 2005, we celebrated St. Matthew’s 50th Anniversary. The Rev’d Chris Brouillard-Coyle served as Assistant Curate in 2009. Rev’d Steve remained in his post until transferring to All Saints Anglican Parish in Sarnia/Corunna, in 2012.
After The Rt. Rev’d Jack Peck served as interim minister for part of 2012 and 2013, The Rev’d Andreas Thiel’s ministry as our rector started, in September 2013. We celebrated St. Matthew’s 60th and 65th anniversaries in 2015 and 2020, respectively. Rev’d Glenda Fisher joined us as a deacon in February 2019. After the deconsecration of St. James Church on Sunday, October 29, 2023, many of its families have found a new church home at St. Matthew’s. Rev’d Andreas left in November 2023, to continue his ministry in Eastport, NL.
The Rev’d Gilles Haché was appointed as St. Matthew’s curate on December 1, 2023, and was inducted as our rector on March 2, 2025. The year 2025 also marks St. Matthew’s 70th Anniversary.
St. James and The Church at Glenwood - When World War II ended in the mid 1940s, many tracts of land were developed into housing communities, including the land surrounding the Roseland Golf course. On November 20, 1949, Bishop George N. Luxton issued the establishment of the Parish of St. James church, Roseland. The parish grew so rapidly that in 1954, permission was granted to start a branch Anglican Sunday School at Glenwood Public School.
The Parish Church of St. Matthew - In 1955, due to high enrolment at Glenwood and the overcrowded conditions at St. James, a second Anglican worship location was to be established. On February 12, 1956, a meeting was convened to organize the new parish.
The appointed rector, The Rev’d Grant Darling, arrived to take over his new charge. The name of the church was chosen by ballot on June 17, 1956 from several names suggested by the congregation. The name St. Matthew received the most votes. The foundation stone was laid on Tuesday August 20, 1957 by Suffragan Bishop William A. Townshend and attended by several ministers. The first service in the new Parish Hall was held on November 24, 1957. On Sunday December 9, 1957, Bishop Luxton dedicated the Parish Hall and consecrated the Sacred Vessels and Ornaments.
In March of 1961, The Rev’d A. Donald Munro came to St. Matthew’s as its second rector. Church activities and enrollment flourished. A new program for building a church and a rectory started in 1964; the church building was completed by February of 1967, and the service of dedication was held on March 3, 1967. Officiating was The Rt. Rev’d G.N. Luxton, Bishop of Huron, assisted by The Rt. Rev’d Carmen J. Queen, Bishop of St. Clair and Suffragan Bishop of Huron, and The Rev’d A.D. Munro. Sadly, Father Munro passed away the following year, and was buried from St. Matthew’s in the afternoon of June 20, 1968.
The Rev’d Ray Farrell’s ministry comprised the years 1968 until 1971.
The Rev’d Canon Bill Millman’s term, from 1971 to 1993, included the arrival of our current pastoral musician, Mike Ricketts in 1975, and the celebration of St. Matthew’s 25th Anniversary in 1980.
The Rev’d Canon Stephen Bradley Harnadek became our rector in 1993. Rev’d Cathy MacKendrick and Rev’d John McAvoy were ordained deacons in 1996, and Rev’d Bob Chandler in 2003. In 2005, we celebrated St. Matthew’s 50th Anniversary. The Rev’d Chris Brouillard-Coyle served as Assistant Curate in 2009. Rev’d Steve remained in his post until transferring to All Saints Anglican Parish in Sarnia/Corunna, in 2012.
After The Rt. Rev’d Jack Peck served as interim minister for part of 2012 and 2013, The Rev’d Andreas Thiel’s ministry as our rector started, in September 2013. We celebrated St. Matthew’s 60th and 65th anniversaries in 2015 and 2020, respectively. Rev’d Glenda Fisher joined us as a deacon in February 2019. After the deconsecration of St. James Church on Sunday, October 29, 2023, many of its families have found a new church home at St. Matthew’s. Rev’d Andreas left in November 2023, to continue his ministry in Eastport, NL.
The Rev’d Gilles Haché was appointed as St. Matthew’s curate on December 1, 2023, and was inducted as our rector on March 2, 2025. The year 2025 also marks St. Matthew’s 70th Anniversary.