St Matthew's Church, Wolverhampton

St Matthew’s Church stands in Wolverhampton as a Church of England parish church. The first building opened in 1849 near Lower Horseley Fields, designed by Edward Banks and built by John Cockerill. It had a clerestoried nave, aisles, a chancel and a bell turret on the west gable. Two porches opened on the western side and a sacristy projected at right angles. The Bishop of Lichfield consecrated the church on 20 November 1849. The church was demolished in 1964 and replaced by a new design by Peter Brownhill. The present church on East Park Way opened in 1969. Bishop Rose Hudson-Wilkin served as curate here in the early to mid 1990s after her ordination training. The first church housed a pipe organ by Nicholson and Lord, whose specification can be found on the National Pipe Organ Register. Visitors find a modern church with clear lines and a calm interior. The nave and chancel remain the heart of the building, arranged for quiet reflection. The earlier church’s organ is remembered through its surviving specification. The surrounding area includes East Park, a short walk away, offering open space and mature trees. The church’s setting links the history of Lower Horseley Fields with the city’s later growth.