In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name (Psalm 33:21).
Our History
- 1966 The original Lutheran Church congregation of the Central Coast NSW began, and the name St Matthew's was chosen.
- 1968 The purchase of the Davistown Methodist Church building was then transported on a truck with a police escort and Gosford councilmen riding on the roof to lift the electricity cables up over the top as it travelled the roads to the West Gosford site.
- 1982 The new church was built and opened on 10 October 1982 in West Gosford with the sandstone altar acquired from the Gosford Quarries. The original wooden church was moved to Narara and became the Scout Hall.
- 1983 The Central Coast Finnish congregation began to regularly hold their Finnish language service at West Gosford, and they were represented on the building committee of the new church.
- 1990 There were around 15 different nationalities that attended the St Matthew's church, and activities such as fetes, home friendship groups and Sunday morning teas were organised.
- 1991 The 25th anniversary of St Matthew's was celebrated.
- 2006 The Donnison Street Cafe for homeless people in Gosford was the chosen project, with a basket regularly filled with non-perishable food items. Then a journey began with the RTA redeveloping the roads, and by 2012 the beautiful St Matthew's Church building was demolished, but the congregation of St Matthew's relocated and continued.
- 2012 The current church was purchased at 8 Jumbuck Crescent, Woy Woy, from the Jehovah's Witnesses' church. Some of the West Gosford church fittings – the bell, railing, altar, pulpit, hymn board, pews and all vestments and altar liturgical items – were rescued and restored into this church building.
- 2016 The projects chosen now are the Mary Mac's Place for homeless people and the YouthLife religious instruction teachers in schools. The women’s fellowship group regularly meets for prayer and projects. The 50th anniversary of St Matthew's Lutheran Church is celebrated by the small, mainly elderly but vibrant congregation which continues to worship ‘Because He Lives’!
- Archbishop Urmas Viilma of the Estonian Lutheran Church visited us on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day with his wife and daughter while visiting all Estonian members in Australia and enjoyed a visit to Umina Beach and lunch at a parishioner's home.
- 2017 Renovations began following a donation from a generous benefactor, allowing for easier access, a new entrance and improved bathroom facilities.
- Celebrations of the 50/500 anniversaries were undertaken with an ecumenical prayer service with the Catholic, Lutheran and Anglican local parishes, officiated by Bishop Mark Lieschke and Fr Barry Nobbs, with Rev M Davies and pastors Taruste, Kaivosoja and Simpfendorfer assisting. Music involved a Bach Cantata, Ubi caritas et amor and a multilingual singing of Luther’s hymn A Mighty Fortress is our God. Lunch at the RSL club was enjoyed following the event.
- Baptism and confirmation services were held during November 2017, including the installation of Pastor Allan Taruste by Bishop Mark Lieschke.
- 2018 Our new District Bishop James Haak officiated at our Good Friday service.
