Downtown Flint is on its way back but hasn’t arrived yet, writes Stephanie Van Koevering ahead of tomorrow’s Feast of Saint Matthew, September 21. There are still challenges: people face homelessness, crime, and economic hardship. But there’s also unexpected beauty. Travel to Beach Street, open the beautiful Romanesque doors to Saint Matthew’s Church, above, and prepare to lose your breath as you take in magnificent art, sculpture, vaulted ceilings, and stained glass. And, on the ornately carved marble altar at the front of the sanctuary, Christ himself awaits.
“You leave the world for a minute when you walk in here,” says parishioner Sarah Blondin, who attends with her new husband, Tom. “It reminds me that everything that we believe is truly real. People build buildings like this to give glory to God. Every single detail is so intentional. It reminds me how deep our faith is and how much there is to it.”
Michael Raia, president of liturgical design firm, Studio io, says “The theology of the liturgy should inform the design of our church buildings – what the liturgy is tells us what a church should be: heaven on earth, a visible sign of the invisible realities of God's presence and grace in the sacraments. Truly, we should be lifted out of the ordinariness of our days so we can encounter Christ and be transformed.
Saint Matthew parishioners, including the Betts family, strongly agree. David and Deanna have been attending Saint Matthew’s since 2022 with their three children, Emilia, 8, Juliette, 6, and Charlotte, 3. “When you first walk inside, everything is centered on our Lord,” says David. “Whether it's the Novus Ordo or the Traditional Latin Mass, the importance of the liturgy, being surrounded by the beauty to lift our prayers and heighten our praise to our Lord, is incredible.”
Deanna concurs. “We really wanted to find beautiful churches, especially with kids, because children are so visual. Visually, when they come in, they are catechized just through the church's art and beauty. As parents, we want to teach our children to recognize the good, the true, and the beautiful because that will ultimately lead them toward God. And we were lucky to find this parish where it's not only beautiful, but that truth is preached. So, it's both parts of the puzzle that we were looking for.”
Even young Emilia can articulate the meaning of the space. “I love the altar,” she says. “I like the white and gold, and how it shines even in the night.”
First established in 1919, the construction of Saint Matthew’s was largely completed — and paid for — during the Great Depression. The parish was staffed by Augustinian friars from almost the beginning of the building work until just a half-dozen years ago.
“Whether it's the brick on the outside or the columns on the inside, it really is built to last, which is another sort of symbol of the church. This is here to stay,” says pastor, Father Anthony Strouse, pictured in photos below, who has served Saint Matthew’s since 2021. “It's not limited by what's in vogue right now. It's solid. It's beautiful. And it will persevere through the centuries.”
From magnificent stained glass to stations of the cross that are hand-painted on copper, the art in the sanctuary is remarkable. The main altar, made of white Italian marble, is replete with symbols. “The art's stunning, especially just the way the architecture is,” says Thomas Wilberding, who was married at Saint Matthew’s last year. “It just gives a sense of right order as it were, to have us here, the whole community, with our attention directed to where Christ is. It just gives a sense of wonder and awe.”
Fellow parishioner Tom Blondin says the same.
“You can tell the intent when they were building this was to worship God. Growing up, I remember we were parishioners here, but we would go to different churches and this is by far just the most beautiful one anywhere near where we live,” he says. “You walk into a church like this, and you want to just be extra reverent because it’s so breathtaking.”
Father Anthony is quick to note the beauty of Saint Matthew’s wasn’t just created for its parishioners — it has an essential role to play in supporting the rebirth of downtown Flint. “We are visited by a great many people living in extreme poverty. When they don't have a place to go, they come here to experience the beautiful. To say, ‘Okay, I can be here and know that God exists because I'm encountering him in beauty, and I don't have to pay a thing to get in here. I don't even have to belong to be in here. As long as I'm just sitting here quietly, I can sit and rest.’ That's what a church is supposed to be: a place of rest.”
“By sharing God’s love and peace with downtown Flint, we offer respite, hope, and healing. And we’ll continue to do that for generations to come.”
