South Grafton Anglicans

The Parish of St Matthews, South Grafton is part of the Anglican Diocese of Grafton. The South Grafton Anglican Parish is the Anglican Church for the townships of South Grafton, Wooli, and Coutts Crossing.

The first St Matthew’s Church was opened on Bent Street, South Grafton in 1880. A new, larger building was opened on the same site in 1948, the original building then became the Parish Office. Due to increased traffic noise and insufficient parking area, in 1992, building began on the present Church, but, due to insufficient finance, work ceased in 1992. In 1998 work recommenced on the building and by early 2000, the entire complex had been finished externally. The new St. Matthew’s is located in Tyson Street, South Grafton and the move took place on the afternoon of Sunday 26th November 2000 with a service led by the Bishop of Grafton, the Right Reverend Philip Huggins. The first part of the service was held in the "old" St.Matthew’s. After the beginning of the Greeting of Peace, Bishop Philip led the congregation from the Church. Many of the congregation walked from the “old” St. Matthew’s, up the South Grafton Hill to the “new” St. Matthew’s, carrying items from the old Church with them. The service resumed when all had regrouped at the new centre, in the “temporary “ Church (later to become the Parish Hall). The whole complex (St. Matthew’s Church & Family Centre) was dedicated and opened by Bishop Philip Huggins on 15th September 2001. On 25th November 2010, the Church was consecrated by the Right Reverend Keith Slater.