A History of St. Matthew's United Methodist Church November 1, 1959 Home • News • Calendar • Maps • Ministries • Leadership History • Connection • Photos • Video Clips • Missions

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October, 1959 - Member of Travis Park Methodist Church, seeing growth in northeast San Antonio, purchase 4.25 acres at 2738 E. Bitters road for the establishment of a new church. The new church is seen as a mission of Travis Park and is named St. Matthew's

November 1, 1959 - Rev. Robert Pitzer held the first service for the new St. Matthew's United Methodist Church at a rented building at 2930 Nacogdoches Road. This building had originally been the home of the Jack Cone family. In intervening years, the structure had been a country club and, more recently, Gilbert's Bar and Lounge. Currently, the property is part of the estate at the corner of Nacogdoches Road and Lovelace, across from Mac Arthur Park Lutheran Church.

August 14, 1960 - Groundbreaking on the first building at the Bitter's Road site. The long building contained classrooms, offices, and the first St. Matthew's sanctuary. Noted architect O'Neal Ford designed the original building.

December 18, 1960 - Dedication of the new building. The building is still in use as the adult classroom building. The original sanctuary is now divided into the choir room and nursery.

June, 1961 - Rev. Charles Moore succeeds Rev. Pitzer

February 8, 1962 - St. Matthew's charters Boy Scout Troop 63

June 1, 1965 - Rev. Hal D. Caskey succeeds Rev. Moore

June 1, 1966 - Rev. Jack Bush succeeds Rev. Caskey

June 1, 1969 - The various Methodist denominations merge to form the United Methodist Church.

October 12, 1969 - Groundbreaking on the current sanctuary

May 31, 1970 - Consecration of the 410-seat sanctuary. All the furnishings, pews, windows, sound system, alter, and everything else, was donated by friends and members of St. Matthew's. This is still the current sanctuary.

1974 - The Gymnasium and additional classrooms were added. The gymnasium was named in honor of the Edgarian family and is officially named Edgarian Hall. The main kitchen is also located in this building.

June 1, 1975 - Rev. Malford C. Hierholzer succeeds Rev. Bush

1979 - Two additional buildings are constructed. One is named in honor of George and Grace Deates. The other is simply called the Annex and became the home of the Youth program and the scout troop. Also the church library is named in honor of Kathy Jackson.

June 1, 1979 - Rev. Charles Merrill succeeds Rev. Hierholzer

June 1, 1985 - Rev. Merrill is appointed District Superintendent. Rev. John Platt is appointed pastor of St. Matthew's

June 1, 1987 - Rev. William B. Sandberg succeeds Rev. Platt

Fall, 1994 - Groundbreaking on the new Fellowship Hall and office/youth building.

November 1, 1994 - St. Matthew's becomes the second church in Bexar County to launch a web site.

June 1, 1995 - Rev. Sandberg is appointed District Superintendent, Victoria District. Rev. L.C. Johnston is appointed pastor of St. Matthew's

Fall, 1995 - Dedication of the new office/youth building and Fellowship Hall.

June 1, 1997 - Rev. Keith Wyatt succeeds Rev. Johnston

Spring, 1998 - The Office/Youth building is renamed in memory of Jason Haddad

Spring, 1999 - A new lighted sign was installed on the front lawn. The sign was dedicated to the memory of Earl Abel. The nursery was renamed in memory of Heather Campbell.

June 1, 2000 - Rev. Wyatt is appointed District Superintendent, Kerrville District. Rev. Howard Surber is appointed pastor of St. Matthew's

2000 - The Northeast School District rebuilds MacArthur High School. The MacArthur principal and St. Matthew's member, Walter Howard, arranges for construction workers to park on St. Matthew's lots during the week. Mr. Howard passed away before the project was completed.

June 1, 2001 - Rev. John Nicholson succeeds Rev. Surber

October, 2001 - In appreciation for the construction worker's labor for the benefit of our youth, St. Matthew's hosted a luncheon for the workers. After completion of the high school reconstruction, the construction company resurfaced the St. Matthew's parking lots free of charge.

Spring, 2002 - Renovation began on the sanctuary as the foundation was stabilized and drainage was added on the western side of the building. Also, the city of San Antonio began street and drainage improvements along Bitters Road.

April, 2002 - A storm blew through bending the cross on top of the steeple. Since repair would entail the difficult process of climbing inside the narrow steeple, the cross was not repaired.

December 20, 2002 - January 3, 2003 - The youth renovated the Annex for a Winter Mission Project. At the time, the building was used for Sunday School, Boy Scouts, and the College Youth Fellowship. In the 23 years since it's construction, parts of the building had been used for the Youth Minister's office, Association of Retarded Citizens after-school program, and a free clinic. The top-to-bottom makeover corrected and consolidated several adaptations made over the years.

March 17, 2003 - A sign company with the proper lifting equipment, inspected and stabilized the cross. While some of the angle was corrected, the cross still leans but is in no danger of falling.

April 21, 2003 - Bitters Road reconstruction was completed.

May 12, 2003 - Renovation of the sanctuary began. The carpet was removed and the pews were taken to Houston for renovation. The room was repainted and the paramount where the pulpit used to be (removed in the early 90's) was removed.

May 30, 2003 - The choir and youth, under the direction of music director David Cain, staged a junior production of Fiddler on the Roof.

July 13, 2003 - Rev. Virgilio Vazquez-Garza, the District Superintendent, rededicates the newly renovated sanctuary followed by an all-church picnic on the front lawn.

February 7, 2004 - St. Matthew's hosted Lay Speaker training for the San Antonio District. Nine youth were included in what is believed to be the first Basic Lay Speaking Course for Youth in the history of the United Methodist Church.

June 1, 2004 - Rev. Andrew Smith succeeds Rev. Nicholson. A new nametag program is started.

October 30, 2004 - St. Matthew's held a Ministry Fair. The event showcased the services St. Matthew's renders to the community. All areas of the church had posters, presentations, and activity booths for neighborhood families to come and see what St. Matthew's has to offer. The carnival is intended as an annual event.

February 2, 2005 - The bent cross was removed from the steeple. Upon inspection, the cross is made of fiberglass, stands 8 feet tall and 5.5 feet wide, and weighs 40 pounds. The steeple is copper cladding over a metal rod frame. The cap piece where the cross connected to the steeple was wood. This wood had rotted out.

Lent, 2005 - Rev. Smith initiates a mid-week communion service on Wednesday nights.

August 2, 2005 - St. Matthew's becomes an official host for National Night Out, an anti-crime campaign hosting neighborhood carnival for people in the Regency and MacArthur Terrace neighborhoods.

Fall, 2005 - New Orleans, Louisiana, was flooded after hurricane Katrina struck nearby Pass Christian, Mississippi. Over 22,000 evacuees were displaced. St. Matthew's members responded individually through a number of agencies including the Red Cross and Salvation Army. As a church, two displaced families were adopted and provided with furniture, food, and clothing as they settled into San Antonio.

September 17, 2005 - The church kitchen catches fire. The Girl Scout leader receives second degree burns on her arm. Smoke damage renders the gym and contents unusable for three weeks. The kitchen is repaired and back in service by November 7th.

December 15, 2005 - The cross bent in 2002 was re-mounted fully upright.

January 3 - 12, 2006 - Rev. Smith led a contingent of 29 to a tour of Israel (22 from St. Matthew's, 7 from other churches in the United States)

June 15, 2006 - Rev. Andy Smith leaves for Lake Travis UMC. Rev. Larry Shores arrives from Faith UMC (Austin)

November 12, 2006 - St. Matthew's UMC and MacArthur Park Lutheran church hold a joint service at MacArthur Park Lutheran. Rev. Larry Shores delivers the sermon and Rev. Paul Ziese of MacArthur Park serves communion.

December 28-30, 2006 - The St. Matthew's Youth Group construct a pavilion and storage shed at the top of Mt. Wesley in Kerrville.

April 25, 2007 - Tornado strikes Eagle Pass, Texas. St. Matthew's fields the only trained Emergency Response Team in the Southwest Texas Conference to assist in the clean-up.

July 6, 2007 - Floods hit the Burnett County area. St. Matthew's fields an Emergency Response Team to Grace UMC in Granite Shoals to assist in the clean-up. (Video)

July 16-20, 2007 - St. Matthew's pilots evening Vacation Bible School. Experiment deemed successful.

August 6, 2007 - Cross falls off steeple, cause unknown. No damage or injuries.

August 14, 2007 - Youth Director Theresa Booth leaves to attend Perkins Seminary.

August 20, 2007 - Chris Baxter starts as new Youth Director.

November 15, 2007 - Church Administrative Assistant Arlene Rodriquez retires after 17 years of service

November 18, 2007 - St. Matthew's hosts the second community worship service held in communion with MacArthur Park Lutheran. Rev. Tracey Breashears of MacArthur Park delivers the sermon and Rev. Larry Shores serves communion.

December 28 & 29, 2007 - Youth Winter Mission Project tiles a 60x8 hallway at Shepherd's Gate UMC

January 6, 2008 - A third worship service is added at 9:45am on Sunday. The service features contemporary music, a more informal atmosphere, and a non-traditional order of worship. The 8:30am service remains unchanged but the later service is moved to 11:10am to allow time for equipment to be moved. The new service is called Living Water: A Refreshing Worship Experience.

Senior Pastors of St. Matthew's UMC

Robert M. Pitzer 1959 - 1961	Charles Moore 1961 - 1965	Hal D. Caskey 1965 - 1966	Jack C. Bush 1966 - 1975	Malford C. Hierholzer 1975 - 1979
Charles Merrill 1979 - 1985	John Platt 1985 - 1987	William B. Sandberg 1987 - 1995	L.C. Johnston 1995 - 1997	Keith Wyatt 1997 - 2000
Howard Surbur 2000 - 2001	John Nicholson 2001 - 2004	Andrew Smith 2004 - 2006	Larry Shores 2006 -

February 28, 2008 Stephen Curry