St. Matthews
Also known as: St. Matthew's Episcopal Church
Why it's listed
St. Matthew's Episcopal Church on Southbridge Street in Worcester is a Gothic Revival building of rock-faced granite and sandstone, designed by Stephen Earle of Earle and Fisher and built by the Norcross Brothers. Its cornerstone was laid in May 1894, and Bishop William Lawrence consecrated it in May 1896. The street facade has a high nave gable with a rose window above a pointed-arch entry, a square tower rising to a belfry and pyramidal roof, and a circular side tower with a conical stone roof. Gothic and Romanesque details ornament the exterior, and the church remains in original condition. A modern parish house stands to the south. The parish began as the first of four Episcopal missions in Worcester, started with the encouragement of rector William Huntington. A wooden chapel was built in 1871, and the parish was organized in 1874. Manufacturer Matthew J. Whittall, a prominent member, gave $30,000 toward the present church.
Significance in brief: The form marks architecture and religion as themes. It describes the church as a rock-faced granite building with Gothic and Romanesque motifs that remains in original condition. It was the first of four Episcopal missions founded in Worcester and was built with major gifts from manufacturer Matthew J. Whittall.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 80000485, listed March 5, 1980. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 693 Southbridge St., Worcester |
|---|---|
| County | Worcester County |
| Listed | March 5, 1980 |
| Reference number | 80000485 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Stephen Earle (Earle and Fisher); built by the Norcross Brothers |
| Architectural style | Gothic Revival |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | State, Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Present use is as a church; the form says it remains in original condition, with a modern parish house to the south. |
| Acreage | 0.3 |
| Coordinates | 42.24325, -71.81164 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 80000485.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7590604
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.