About St. Matthew's Episcopal Church 

"I made the claim for this Church that it meant light: that it meant more light here in Fairbanks."

So wrote Archdeacon Stuck about the first services held at St. Matthew's.  It was Sunday, October 16th, 1904. The Church filled for services both morning and night. Though an Episcopal service (thanks to the mission in Circle) had been held the previous year in the Fairbanks Saloon, this was the formal beginning of St. Matthew's. Since the calling of the bell that first Sunday, the log church has continued to bring together, across all racial, cultural, and economic boundaries, from Fairbanks and throughout the Interior, everyone - prospectors, trappers, business leaders, visitors, dreamers, pioneers and the newly arrived.  St. Matthew's contributed the first Hospital (built on the adjacent lot, providing the only medical care in the area, see 'Founding of St. Matthews Hospital', from the Alaska Churchman,  the first library (a reading room in the church), the first kindergarten, and the first Boy Scout troop to the life of Fairbanks. From the doors of St. Matthew's, Stuck led the first successful ascent of Denali; churches were established along the Tanana River; and the first meeting of the Tanana Chiefs was held with the Federal Government.

St. Matthews is one of the three oldest churches in Fairbanks, located on First Avenue, across the street from the Chena River, in Fairbanks, Alaska.   The original church building burned in 1947, but the great wooden altar and other carvings were saved, and were replaced with the present St. Matthew's Church building.  First services in the new church were held Christmas Eve, 1948. It's congregation numbers about 1200, over half of which are Alaskan Native.  The Lord's Prayer is prayed nearly every Sunday (if a speaker is present) in the Gwitch'in, the Athabaskan language, as well as in English.   On March 29, St. Matthews began celebrating 100 years of ministry in Fairbanks.

 St. Matthew's has a large outreach; especially for a church it's size.  In addition to three Sunday services, St. Matthew's also holds services at the Pioneer Home, Denali Center, and the Fairbanks Correctional Facility.  Midnight Compline is held at the church Sunday through Friday nights, and other special services are held as well.  St. Matthew's is a warm and welcoming place, and many people report feeling immediately at home here.  Many others have turned to St. Matthew's to find a haven or a sanctuary in times of stress or need.