A Short History

St Matthew has a proud history. Our church building dates back to 1881 when it was first handed over by Lady Eleanor Clifton as a school for the children of the Ballam area. The opening school register showed an intake of 74 pupils.

The school – also in use as a mission church – remained an integral part of the local community for close on a century before closing in the mid 1970s.

However, an extraordinary meeting unanimously decided to retain the building as a church and it became a dedicated place of worship.

The name St Matthew, directly connected to the founding fathers of the village, was assigned. No other building in the deanery was named after St Matthew. On June 29th 1985, a service was held at which the Bishop of Blackburn delivered the licence to officially give the building its name as a church.

SAFEGUARDING – The Safeguarding Officer at St Matthew is Elisabeth Agnew, who can be contacted on 01253 794737. (for more information please go to safeguarding on the Contacts page).

CARTWRIGHT SET FOR ARENA RETURN!

Top-rated father-and-son duo act “CARTWRIGHT” are returning to our Ballam Arena with a totally new live concert on Friday August 14th (7.30pm). (for full details see news)

FRANK’S TOUCHING GESTURE

Frank Howard, for many years one of our most loyal parishioners, has left St Matthew £3,000 in his Will (for full details see news)

WELCOME BACK CANON GODFREY

We are delighted that Canon Godfrey Hirst has kindly agreed to step in to take our Sunday Services in the coming months, while the Benefice awaits the appointment of a new Vicar. It is great to have Godfrey back with us.