A Brief history of St. Matthew's Lutheran Church

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 St. Matthew's Lutheran church was founded in 1954 as a mission congregation in the Arlington area. The inaugural service was held on June 6, 1954 in a wooden frame building, then part of Jacksonville University.  Some 133 souls were present for that first service.

 St. Matthew's was officially organized in January, 1955 and its name chosen.  At that time it was the 41^st Florida Synod Lutheran congregation and by the turn of the century, that number would rise to over 240!

 An option was taken on the present site, then "far out" on a dirt road (Merrill Road).  Planning for a permanent church went forward in the late 1950s and ground breaking for a 300-seat chapel (now the Fellowship Hall) was started in June. 1959.  The congregation had purchased some 424 feet frontage on Merrill Road and the depth was 615 feet.

 St. Matthew's continued to grow.  In 1964, for example, the average Sunday attendance was 244. 

 The present sanctuary was completed in June, 1987.  Services were held twice on Sunday and a great number of associated charitable and religious activities were always occurring.

The current pastor, Dr. David Imhoff, was called to St. Matthew's in March 1998 as Senior Pastor.  A year afterwards a generous gift of two million dollars was contributed to the building of the Family Life Center, just recently completed.  This gave St. Matthews one of the largest and finest church physical plants in Jacksonville.  The congregation continues to grow - music is especially emphasized, youth activities are on the increase and there is truly something for everyone in the church family.  St. Matthew's continues to enlarge its commitment to also serve its friends, neighbors and suitable charities.