St Matthew’s Church, Cheltenham

St Matthew’s Church in Cheltenham is but a stone’s throw from the ancient Minster so they are both, inevitably, part of the same parish and sharing clergy. ‘St Matt’s’ is of a decidedly evangelical hue which is to its credit, though neither building appears to be open except for services and official functions. St Matthew’s has a rather heavy and solid appearance, as though wishing to compete with the older minster in a competition of seriousness and gravity. I cannot talk of the insides, of course, but solidity is a virtue when it comes to both buildings and congregations. A structure which falls down in a strong wind or washes away in a downpour is not safe to use. Similarly, a congregation which changes its direction of travel when the winds of culture alter, or dimly reflects the contemporary thought patterns, is as great a danger for the soul as a shaky building is to the body. Faithfulness means sticking to the Bible’s message even when the times do not approve; it means not changing one’s clothes in order to blend in to the world’s latest colour scheme.

I have prayed for St Matthew's, and those who lead it.