Music Ministry

St. Matthews prides itself on a strong music ministry being central to our worship life. The Lutheran tradition of congregational hymn singing and liturgical music highlights scripture texts, organ music adds character and depth to the church season, and the experienced Sanctuary Choir leads songs of praise.

If you would like to hear some musical selections, audio files have been posted to the Special Music page.  Additionally, some brief video clips of our services and other music can be viewed on our YouTube channel.

The historic pipe organ which graces the rear loft with its pipe facade majestically standing across the back of the sanctuary was originally installed in 1915. It was rebuilt by the Quebec firm Casavant Bros in 1943, designed and dedicated by Healey Willan, a notable figure on the Canadian organ scene in the 20^th century. The rebuilt organ moved the set of chimes to the newly created echo division which was installed beside the pulpit but played from the main console at the back. This 1943 instrument was comprised of 52 stops and 2,658 pipes. A renovation project in 1992 added 300 new pipes for two additional stops on the four manual instrument.

In 2024 Oxford Organ Company updated the wiring and digital components in the console, the combination action capture system, and the cabling into the windchests from old cloth covered wires to modern network cable. They also upgraded the contacts for keyboards and pedalboard to Hall Effect sensors and installed Pedersen motors to power the expression box louvres. The echo organ blower was also relocated near the windchests in the Echo division. Here is a complete listing of stops and the organ specification.

Wooden facade pipes (non-speaking) and carved wooden angels were placed in front of the echo organ and above the original location of the baptismal font (on the other side of the chancel). The angels symbolize the call of the trumpet at the end of our time. The angels were made by the Globe Furniture Co.