St Matthew's Anglican Church

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Celebrating 175 years, sure does have a story to tell. It was built in 1848 as a result of a petition by the local people scattered between the city and the foothills as well as Bishop Short's desire for spiritual provision. Bishop Short had arrived and settled in Kensington the year before.



Within the church are eleven stained glass windows. These windows not only symbolise faith and hope but also give an account of the church's past, present and future.



As you enter through the porch, you'll find St Matthew's window by Judy Davies. Made in the 1970s, this window features eclectic motifs such as three bags of money, an oil lamp, a wheat sheaf, the Jerusalem Cross and the St John's Cross. The money bags, of course, represent Matthew the tax collector.



Also on the porch is a 1912 window with the inscription GFS which stands for Girls' Friendly Society. Its motif includes a red cross and a golden crown of thorns set against an olive tree.



The double doors leading from the porch to the main church had recently been adorned with a pair of windows signifying Christ's birth (star) and death (cross). There are subtle differences between the windows and you're welcome to pick them out if you can.



When the church was extended, Cedar Prest created two large New Life windows on the northern walls. The pelican's small red heart and drop of blood is symbolic of the sacrifice of Christ while the red and orange flame at the base suggests the resurrection of Christ.



In the sanctuary, you'll come across a beautiful memorial window made in memory of eighteen men who fell in war. Their names are inscribed below the window. Christ is depicted here standing on clouds as he ascends to heaven.



The church also has some of Adelaide's oldest burial sites, so feel free to wander around the grounds and learn more about the many South Australians who were buried here since 1848.



Finally, the stone building adjacent to the church is its current rectory. Back in the day, Bishop Short lived in a house on the corner of Bishops Place and Tram Street within walking distance of the church. This was before he built Beaumont House, now the State Office of the National Trust of South Australia.

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