Sundays at 10 am · Details

  36 New Canaan Rd., Wilton, CT 06897  ·   (203) 762-7400  ·       Give

St. Matthew's Episcopal Church
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WEPCO

Our History and Unique Partnership

St. Matthew’s was founded in 1802, the same year Wilton was organized. Beginning in 1864, and for more than 100 years, our parish worshiped in a lovely stone church still located on Route 7 near the Wilton Town Hall that is now home to the Wilton Baptist Church.

By the 1960’s, however, St. Matthew’s had outgrown that church and begun examining opportunities for a new church home. At the same time, Wilton’s Presbyterian congregation was worshipping in borrowed facilities and exploring possibilities for a permanent church home. Under the leadership of our Rector, Roger O. Douglas, long considered a progressive thinker, in 1971 the Wilton Episcopal Presbyterian Corporation (WEPCO) was formed and we embarked on a unique partnership with our Presbyterian neighbors and friends.

The WEPCO joint venture grew out of a time when ecumenism was at the forefront of Christian thought. It was also seen as a way that the two congregations could have separate sanctuaries, while sharing resources and the expenses of staff and space. The two congregations share a campus of ten acres as a condominium association. The Presbyterian and Episcopal sanctuaries are owned by the respective individual churches. Everything else is held in common and managed by a WEPCO Board of Directors. This Board is comprised of an equal number of Presbyterians and Episcopalians. The common ownership includes offices, classrooms, meeting rooms, a kitchen and Parish Hall, as well as the outside grounds and parking lot.

While the WEPCO complex is the physical manifestation of this partnership, its spiritual aspects run much deeper. Our joint Christian Education program means that Sunday school classes are taught by teams of teachers from both parishes. Our middle and high school youth programs and activities are combined, which leads to lasting friendships and relationships among our young parishioners. And through periodic joint worship services and shared community events, all of our parishioners gain increased understanding and appreciation for different ways of worshiping Christ and living in Christian community.

The WEPCO partnership requires commitment, compromise, and is, at times, complex. Our parish strongly embraces the partnership, and believes that in strengthening the partnership, we will strengthen and build our St. Matthew’s parish as well. Our Rector and the Senior Pastor of WPC are colleagues and enjoy working together. They both participate in the Wilton Clergy Association and are always looking for new ways to collaborate. Soon, we will have the opportunity to celebrate the ‘Golden Anniversary’ of the WEPCO partnership.


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Community Adult Formation Mission Parish Life Pastoral Care Resources WEPCO

Sermons

  • May 29 | The Rev. Marissa S. Rohrbach
    The Last Sunday of Easter.
  • May 15 | Meg Stapleton Smith
    The Fifth Sunday of Easter.
  • May 1 | The Rev. Marissa S. Rohrbach
    The Third Sunday of Easter.
  • Apr 17 | The Rev. Marissa S. Rohrbach
    Easter Sunday, April 17, 2022.
  • Apr 14 | The Rev. Marissa S. Rohrbach
    Maundy Thursday.


St. Matthew's Episcopal Church
36 New Canaan Rd., Wilton, CT 06897
(203) 762-7400

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Service Times

Sundays at 10 am

Holy Eucharist Rite II
Church School & Nursery Care during worship


Location

St. Matthew's Episcopal Church
36 New Canaan Rd.
Wilton, CT 06897

Contact Us
(203) 762-7400

Newsletter Signup

Visit What to Expect Service Times Getting Here

St Matthew’s is a community of disciples and we are on a journey together. We are called to participate in God’s mission. We learn and dream, worship and pray, laugh, cry and serve together. St. Matt’s is a place where we learn about God and learn to be disciples. It’s a place to call home. A place to belong. Wherever you are on your spiritual journey, you are welcome.

As you reach the doors to St. Matthew’s Church you will be greeted by a member of our church. Feel free to ask questions and sign in at our Visitors Book located on your left side just past the name tag table. You will be handed a bulletin as you walk into the sanctuary so you can fully participate in the service if you want. Come as you are! No dress code required.

If you need childcare services, please ask your Greeter for direction.

Sundays at 8:00 am Holy Eucharist Rite II
A quiet, informal service held around the Altar

Sundays at 10:00 am Holy Eucharist Rite II with choir & organ (September–June)
Church School & Nursery Care during worship

Summer (July and August): Sundays at 10:00 am (click here for details)

Learn More

We are located at 36 New Canaan Road in Wilton. After you park your car, walk ahead through the walkway to the courtyard, and we our sanctuary is located on the left side of the complex.

Our parish office is located in the middle building connecting St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church and Wilton Presbyterian Church, and you can enter through the door marked Parish Office in the courtyard.

Directions
Stewardship Pledge Flowers Endowment/Planned Giving Rector's Discretionary Fund

“For all things come from you, and of your own have we given you” (1 Chronicles 29:14, NRSV)

Many Episcopalians know this line of scripture because we say it in our Eucharistic liturgy every week. It reflects our deepest understanding of thanksgiving and stewardship - God gives us everything! When we give to God, others, and the church, we are really giving back what is originally a gift from God. We are all stewards of the resources, abilities, and opportunities that God has entrusted to our care, and s caretakers of these gifts, we support our church and God’s mission by using our time, our skills, and our financial resources.

Donate Now Learn More about Giving

A pledge is a spiritual promise, a commitment to the life of a faith community, a commitment to which God calls each one of us. Pledges help with orderly financial planning and they make possible all the programming and fellowship that we enjoy together, including: children’s and youth ministries, music, building operations and maintenance, clergy and staff compensation, mission engagement, fellowship, and much more. YOU are the heart of St. Matthew's. Your generous gift makes all of our programming possible.

Make a Pledge Pay 2021 Pledge Pay 2022 Pledge

It is the tradition of St. Matthew’s to use fresh flowers at our altar every Sunday for worship as well as other special occasions. Prepared by our Flower Guild, you may sponsor the flowers on a date of your choosing in memory of a loved one, in thanksgiving, or other purpose for a suggested donation of $75. Those named in memory or in thanksgiving are also included in the prayers of the people on that Sunday. Following worship, our Petal Pushers deliver the flowers to members or friends of St. Matthew’s, bringing our prayers from our altar to their home.

Flower Donations

Healthy and vibrant future ministries at St. Matthew’s will be built upon the legacies we leave today. Many of our Episcopal institutions exist because past generations cared so much about the future of the Episcopal Church and expressed their caring by creating planned gifts. Planned giving is a ministry that is vital because it can help ensure the future of our church, but also because it offers you the opportunity to make a final testament about the importance of your Christian faith. Find some ideas how you might give from the Episcopal Church Foundation.

Title III, Canon 9, Section 6(b6), of the Constitution and Canons of the Episcopal Church (2015) is generally interpreted to mean that, at a minimum of one Sunday a month, the loose offering at the Holy Eucharist is designated for the clergy discretionary fund. Congregations may wish to set aside a budgeted amount for the discretionary fund in addition to or as a substitute for the above method. Congregations may designate that all fees or gifts received for weddings, funerals, and baptisms are contributed to the discretionary fund. Individuals may also contribute to the fund with occasional gifts.

Rector Discretionary Fund