Presbytery Mission News

St Matthew’s Church in Perth has become the ‘home of Presbytery’, with our in-person Presbytery meetings being held there. It seems appropriate, therefore, that St Matthew’s should share the first of the Mission Committee’s ‘monthly mission’ stories.

St Matthew’s is known for opening its doors during weekdays, where volunteers open the doors and visitors can have a cuppa and a chat. More than that, though, the same visitors can spend time in the sanctuary, either just looking around or having a guided tour. There is a guidebook available, leaflets available about some of the church features in a variety of different languages, and importantly, prayer cards that anyone can take away.

Throughout the summer though, mission at St Matthew’s takes on a different feel. There is a Summer Gallery and Festival bringing in thousands of people: visitors, churchgoers, those who’ve never been in a church, as well as those who say, “I used to come to church, but it’s so hard to walk back in the door”.  The Summer Gallery and Festival makes it easy.

St Matthew’s Summer Gallery and Festival is mission with a difference. Throughout July and August, the sanctuary hosts a variety of artwork from local artists, who can sell their work. The artwork changes each Friday after the gallery closes.  Saturdays bring a new amazing amount of talent. Doors are open Mon-Sat 10.30-4.00 pm and Sunday 1.00 – 4.00 pm. Entry is free.

But it doesn’t stop there.

Music for a Wednesday night brings in a different genre of music each week, provided by local musicians.  It’s a great way to relax midweek and enjoy something different, along with tea and coffee. Music starts at 7.30 pm and lasts for approximately an hour. Of course, the buzz within the chancel continues after that.

The Session Room has been turned into a prayer room, with a variety of ways to encourage visitors to come and have some quiet time and pray as well as to leave prayer requests. This new development grew out of the pastoral and prayer encounters the volunteers and minister have had with visitors during previous Summer Galleries. People are seeking a place of sanctuary and they find it at St Matthew’s.

Not only does all of this bring people into the church, but it also brings in income. As well as paying a fee to exhibit each week, the artists give the church a commission on their sales. Entry to the exhibition is free and there is a suggested donation of £5 for the evening music. It’s not essential to pay though. All are welcome at St Matthew’s.

The Summer Gallery and Festival took vision, teamwork, volunteers and yes, a lot of organisation.  So why do it?

There are three reasons why it takes place.

1.    To bring people into the church, to give them an opportunity to walk back through church doors, or to come in for the first time.

2.    To work with the community, through sponsorship, local artists and musicians.

3.    To bring income to the church.

Money usually follows mission, even when it’s not requested. It has also given many of the volunteers in the church something to do over the summer. So many church organisations finish for the summer. One gentleman said that when he and his wife were new to the area, they didn’t know what to do over the summer as everything they used to do had finished until September. St Matthew’s is somewhere they can go. 

The brochure was sponsored and includes local advertisements.  It can be found in pdf format on St Matthew’s Church of Scotland Facebook Group at

https://www.facebook.com/pages/St-Matthews-Church/127714973946352

or you can follow this link  https://publuu.com/flip-book/77653/1163806

More detailed photos are available on the Facebook page.

If you’d like more information, please e-mail the minister, Rev Fiona Bullock, fbullock@churchofscotland.org.uk or Rev Maggie Roderick, MRoderick@churchofscotland.org.uk who is on the Presbytery Mission Committee, and they will put you in touch with the folk who put it all together. 

Author: Rev Maggie Roderick