Our Story
Rooted in faith. Shaped by history. Alive in Charleston.
A Congregation Centuries in the Making
Since 1847, St. Matthew's has stood as a place where the ancient faith is proclaimed without apology and received with open hands. What began as a small gathering of believers in the heart of Charleston has grown, through generations of grace, into a congregation marked by deep conviction, reverent worship, and enduring community.
We are a Presbyterian church in the historic tradition — shaped by the confessions of the Reformation and committed to the whole counsel of God's Word. Here, the liturgy is not mere ceremony; it is the structured unfolding of the gospel week by week, carrying the faithful through confession, assurance, proclamation, and sending. We believe that how we worship forms who we are, and we take that responsibility seriously.
St. Matthew's is not a church chasing the moment. We are a church anchored to something older, truer, and far more enduring — the risen Christ, the inspired Scriptures, and the fellowship of his people across the ages. Whether your family has worshipped with us for decades or you are stepping through our doors for the very first time, you are entering a story that is still very much being written.
Our Mission & Values
Glorifying God through reverent worship, faithful preaching, and sacramental fellowship — as we have sought to do since 1847.
Faithful Preaching
We are committed to expository, Christ-centered preaching that opens the Scriptures text by text and applies God's Word to real life. The sermon is not a reflection on current events — it is the proclamation of eternal truth.
Reverent Worship
Our worship is ordered, historic, and deliberately shaped by the rhythms of the liturgy. We believe that gathering before a holy God calls for reverence, preparation, and the full engagement of heart and mind.
Sacramental Life
We celebrate the sacraments of Baptism and the Lord's Supper as visible signs and seals of the covenant of grace. These holy ordinances are central to the life of St. Matthew's, not supplemental to it.
Covenant Fellowship
We are not a gathering of individuals who happen to share a zip code — we are a covenant community bound together by a common Lord and a shared calling. Belonging to St. Matthew's means belonging to one another.
Faithful Discipleship
Growth in grace is the steady, lifelong work of every believer. Through the Inquirers' Class, Sunday instruction, and the ordinary means of grace, we walk together toward maturity in Christ.
Doctrinal Integrity
As a congregation of the Presbyterian Church in America, we are confessional in our theology, holding to the Westminster Standards as a faithful summary of what the Scriptures teach. We believe truth matters — and we handle it with care.
What We Believe
We believe in one God — eternal, holy, and altogether glorious — who exists as three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This triune God is the creator of all things, the sustainer of all life, and the sovereign Lord of history. Everything we do at St. Matthew's begins and ends with him.
We believe the Bible is the inspired and infallible Word of God — the supreme authority for all matters of faith and life. Scripture is not simply a helpful guide; it is God's own voice, speaking clearly and sufficiently to every generation. At St. Matthew's, our preaching is rooted in the text because we trust the text.
We believe that Jesus Christ is fully God and fully man — born of a virgin, crucified for sinners, risen from the dead, and ascended to the right hand of the Father. He is the only mediator between God and humanity, and salvation is found in him alone. His life, death, and resurrection are the center of everything we proclaim.
We believe that all people are born in sin and in need of redemption they cannot earn or manufacture on their own. Salvation is entirely the work of God's grace — received through faith in Jesus Christ alone. We are justified not by what we do, but by what Christ has done on our behalf.
We believe the Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity, fully God, who indwells every believer and works powerfully in the life of the church. He illuminates Scripture, convicts of sin, produces the fruit of godliness, and unites God's people to one another and to Christ. His presence is not an occasional gift — he is the constant companion of the faithful.
We believe the church is not a building or a program — it is the assembled people of God, called out of the world and gathered around Word and sacrament. St. Matthew's is a local expression of that one holy, catholic, and apostolic church, and we take our membership vows seriously. To join this congregation is to commit to one another under the lordship of Christ.
We believe that this life is not all there is. At death, the souls of believers pass into the presence of Christ, and at the final resurrection, both body and soul will be made whole and glorified. There will be a final judgment, and those who are united to Christ by faith will dwell with God forever in the new creation.
Our Pastors & Staff
Rev. Dr. James Whitfield
Senior Minister
The Rev. Dr. Whitfield has served St. Matthew's for 18 years. He holds a Ph.D. in biblical theology from Princeton.