OUR HERITAGE
1930
Worship services begin in Barrington at the Catlow Theater under the leadership of the Rev. Paul Gerth of St. Matthew Lutheran Church, Fairfield (now Hawthorn Woods).
1932
St. Matthew Lutheran Church is chartered as a congregation with thirty-five members.
1933
The Rev. A. T. Kretzmann is called as St. Matthew's first pastor.
1934
Saint Matthew dedicates its first church building, a Free Methodist church dating to 1855 in Algonquin. Purchasing the unused building for 150, it was subsequently moved on a truck bed to Barrington. Over 800 people attend the three services of dedication.
1942
Under Pastor Kretzmann's leadership, Saint Matthew helps to found a daughter congregation, Saint John Lutheran Church, in Island Lake. Saint Matthew and Saint John operate as a dual parish, served by one pastor, until 1953.
1943
Saint Matthew becomes a completely self-supporting congregation.
1945
Pastor Kretzmann accepts a call to serve Trinity Lutheran Church in Crete, Illinois. The Rev. H. H. Heinemann, who was serving Saint Peter Lutheran Church, North Plato, and Saint Peter Lutheran Church, Pingree Grove, is called to serve Saint Matthew.
1954
Having outgrown their church building at Lill and Coolidge, Saint Matthew purchases 10 acres of land just south of Evergreen Cemetery. In 1954, this land was outside the village boundaries.
1957
Saint Matthew breaks ground for its new church building and parsonage at the corner of Dundee Avenue and Tower Road at a cost of $150,000.
1959
The congregation conducts a brief farewell service in the church building at Lill and Coolidge and walks in procession to its new church for the service of dedication.
1968
The first of nine vicars, pastoral interns, serve at Saint Matthew under the supervision of Pastor Heinemann.
1971
Saint Matthew determines to expand the church facilities by adding office space, Sunday School rooms, a youth room, other classrooms, and a gymnasium.
1973
Saint Matthew dedicates its newly expanded facilities.
1981
Pastor Heinemann retires after serving St. Matthew for 36 years.
1982
The Rev. Robert Moll is ordained and installed as the third pastor to serve St. Matthew.
1985
Saint Matthew’s "Special Gifts" program is launched to support ministry needs both at St. Matthew and throughout the denomination and its agencies.
1986
A portion of the congregation's Jubilee Offering is designated in support of the mission congregation, Risen Savior Lutheran Church, Indian Creek, Illinois.
1988
The Rev. Gerald Schalk is installed as Associate Pastor, St. Matthew’s fourth pastor.
1990
Saint Matthew enters into a partnership with a mission congregation, King of Glory Lutheran Church in South Elgin, Illinois, to provide them with financial support as they begin their building project.
1994
Cathy Gathman becomes Director of Music.
1995
Saint Matthew sends its first servant team to work in Mexico. Ysleta Lutheran Mission in El Paso, Texas, serves as the team's base of operations for the next 10 years and 20+ mission trips.
2003
During the October Adult Mission Trip, members of St. Matthew took part in the dedication of the new Lutheran church in Zaragosa, Mexico.
2004
During the congregation's eighteenth mission trip to Mexico, the members of the Adult Mission Team dedicated the house which had been built for Pastor Hernandez and his family. The congregation had funded the construction of this home as well as working on the project.
2006
The Rev. Robert Moll retired after serving St. Matthew for 25 years. The Rev. Gerald Schalk moved from Associate Pastor to Senior Pastor.
2007
The Rev. Mark Nordman is installed as Associate Pastor, St. Matthew’s fifth pastor.
2008
The Rev. Gerald Schalk retired after serving St. Matthew for 20 years. The Rev. Mark Nordman becomes Sole Pastor of St. Matthew.
2009
Holly Wilson becomes the Office Manager of St. Matthew
2012
The Rev. Mark Nordman, having left St. Matthew in 2010, is succeeded by the Rev. Marc Cohen, St. Matthew’s sixth pastor.
2018
The Rev. Marc Cohen, having left St. Matthew in 2016, is succeeded by the Rev. Michael Brown, St. Matthew’s seventh pastor.
2019
Elina Klippel begins work as St. Matthew’s Director of Family Life. St. Matthew establishes a partnership with the Belize Mission Society and begins annual Mission Trips to Belize.
St. Matthew partners with the Belize Mission Society, and begins annual mission trips to Belize.