In 1915, a small group of Blacks met in a home in the Orchard Street area of New Haven. They had recently migrated from the “South” and longed for the Christian fellowship of their culture. A Prayer Band was formed and soon progressed to become a church with the late Rev. E.M. Hardy as its first minister.

By 1918, the Prayer Band was meeting at its first home in a storefront at 148 Henry Street (which is presently Estes Barber Shop) They became chartered as Saint Matthew’s Unified Free Will Baptist Church. The late Mother Matilda Gorham provided funding for the charter. Rev. Thomas O. Gorham was the first pastor and other officers were Deacon Square J. Holmes, Trustee Major Smith, Secretary John Johnson, Treasurer Dennis Daniels, Mother Matilda Gorham and Effie Holmes.

In the 1920s, the church moved to 81 Webster Street. During the 1930s, St. Matthew’s was moved to Charles Street. The succession of pastors following Rev. Gorham was the Rev. R.W. McNeil, Rev. Steven Robinson, Rev. Jake(JK) Davis, Rev. Robert W. Pitts (who later founded Pitts Chapel), Rev. John W. Henry, and Rev. Jake Davis (again).

We are blessed to have some members with more than fifty years of service. We are extremely grateful for their struggle to preserve St. Matthew’s throughout the years. Rev. Dr. Lloyd Taylor, DD was the seventh pastor of St. Matthew. He succeeded Rev. Jake Davis in 1945, and served until his death on June 29, 1977. Rev. Taylor was the longest serving pastor that St. Matthew’s has known. His 32 year tenure was marked by many new ideas and church attendance increased greatly. During this time the two original choirs (Senior and Junior choirs, which were renamed the Intermediate Choir) were joined by four more choirs. They were named the Willing Workers Choir, The Gospel Chorus, Youth and Young Adult Choir and a new Junior Choir. Other groups emerged and the Pastor’s Aid. After the death of Rev. Lloyd Taylor, Deacon John Daniels took the full leadership of St. Matthew’s Church council until our present pastor was elected on August 1977.

Bishop Robert J. Gay preached his first sermon as Pastor on the second Sunday in January 1978. His subject was “Unity.” Bishop Gay has done great things through Jesus Christ in continuing the up-building of St. Matthew’s Church.

The church moved to its present location in March of 1961. In 1979, Bro. James Locke oversaw the project as chairman as we witnessed a new addition to the church structure for our 500 members.

Sis. Juanita Stanley served as church clerk from 1960 until 1981, when she resigned and made Florida her home. Mother Inez Gibson became our new church clerk in November 1984. Deacon John Daniels served as Chairman of the Deacon Board for many years until his death in November 1990. Deacon Theodore Jackson was Chairman from December 1990 until his health failed him. Deacon Douglas Dolberry took over as Chairman in August in 1996. Deacon Dolberry relocated to North Carolina in 2000, Deacon Arthur Taylor became Chairman of the Deacon Board.

St. Matthew’s sponsored our first “Feed a Family Christmas Basket” in December 1991. Thanksgiving baskets were distributed for the first time in November 1992. The Robert James Gay Building (Annex) was purchased in 1985 and is utilized for Sunday School classes, choir rehearsals, Bible study, assisting with rehabilitation of substance abusers and recently the University Bible College that began February 2000. The 8:00am Sunday services were established in April 1992 and are very successful. The 12 noon Thursday Service commenced on January 7, 1999.

The senior house (3-family house for the elderly) located at 364 Dixwell Avenue in New Haven was purchased April 10, 1996. Also, the scholarship fund for graduating seniors was established with the class of 1996.

On August 29,1998, The church had a dedication and mortgage burning for the Robert J. Gay Building Annex. The church library was dedicated and named in honor of Mother Charlotte Taylor. The church Food Van was dedicated in the memory of Sister Julia Ann Bell Cotton.