St Matthew's Church in Widcombe is an Anglican church located on Cambridge Place in Widcombe, the southeastern section of

Bath, Somerset Bath () is a city in the Bath and North East Somerset unitary area in the county of Somerset, England, known for and named after its Roman-built baths. At the 2021 Census, the population was 101,557. Bath is in the valley of the River Avon, ...

. Built 1846-1847 principally to designs by

Bath City Architect The prominent post of Bath City Architect was bestowed by the Corporation of Bath, England, on an architect who would be repeatedly chosen for civic projects. It is a form of council architect. * Thomas Warr Attwood (unofficially) 1733–177 ...

George Phillips Manners George Phillips Manners (1789 – 28 November 1866) was a British architect, Bath City Architect from 1823 to 1862. In his early career he worked with Charles Harcourt Masters and after about 1845 was in partnership with C.E. Gill. He retired ...

, it is situated above the Widcombe Locks of the

Kennet and Avon Canal The Kennet and Avon Canal is a waterway in southern England with an overall length of , made up of two lengths of navigable river linked by a canal. The name is used to refer to the entire length of the navigation rather than solely to the cen ...

and opposite the Church Room Institute on Cambridge Place. It is one of two churches in the parish of Widcombe, the other being the much older St Thomas à Becket. The bells of St Matthew's were taken from St Becket's in 1847, possibly by force. The church is dismissively described by Pevsner in his ''Buildings of England'' guides as "St. Matthew, Cambridge Place, Widcombe. 1846–7 by Manners & Gill. Dull, in the Dec rativestyle, with a outhtower carrying a broach spire." The tall spire holds 6 bells. Refurbishment during the 1970s adapted the church for use as a parish hall and provided meeting rooms and venues for various community and church events. In the summer of 2014 a newly planted congregation led by a new full-time Priest in Charge recommenced weekly worship service on Sunday evenings. A newly launched parish website covers both parish churches within Widcombe

benefice A benefice () or living is a reward received in exchange for services rendered and as a retainer for future services. The Roman Empire used the Latin term as a benefit to an individual from the Empire for services rendered. Its use was adopted by ...

and plays an active part of the wider Bath deanery.

References

External links

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Photos of St. Matthew's, Widcombe
{{DEFAULTSORT:Saint Matthew's Church, Widcombe Widcombe Churches in Bath, Somerset Churches completed in 1847 19th-century Church of England church buildings 1847 establishments in England Gothic Revival church buildings in England Gothic Revival architecture in Somerset