The Episcopal Book of Common Prayer says that the mission of the Church is to reconcile all people to God and one another through Christ. Matthew. All aspects of the Cathedral's life seek to make the love and compassion of Jesus Christ known to all and to seek reconciliation among all people. The three words that hold us together are Christ + Community + Compassion. These express our core values.
We want to make Christ known to all. We also want to live as a community of compassion to one another and to the world around us, specifically to the East Dallas community. We strive to be one congregation of diverse people. We believe there is room for all people in God's family and we welcome all to our community. As the Cathedral Church of the Diocese of Dallas, we are also the "Bishop's Church." St Matthew's is the oldest Episcopal Congregation in North Texas, and was the first church during the formation of the Episcopal Diocese of Dallas. Bishop Garrett named St. Matthew's as his Cathedral in 1875 and we continue to be one of the leading congregations of this vital and healthy diocesan community. We host many diocesan events, and we offer the Stanton Center for Ministry Formation. This intensive center for study prepares diocesan deacons for ordination, and provides for in depth theological education for lay leadership of the Diocese. The Cathedral Church contains some of the most beautiful stained glass and art work of any Texas churches. While we believe the Cathedral itself is a beautiful and holy place, we also strive to be an alive Christian Community of Sacrament and Word in the Catholic expression of the Episcopal Church. Join us for worship, fellowship, and service.
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Cathedral Development Project: - Exciting New Chapter in the Life of St. Matthew’s Cathedral
In September of 2021, the Cathedral sold about 4 acres of its campus along Garrett and Henderson Avenues to Trammell Crow Residential (TCR) for development into over 380 apartment units that will bring approximately 500 new neighbors to the Cathedral’s doorstep. In addition to adding much-needed housing to the city, a portion of the units will be designated as “affordable housing,” thus increasing options for those struggling to afford a place to live near their work. The project, to be named Alexan Cathedral Arts, also contributes to the renaissance of Old East Dallas, welcoming new people into our venerable community and augmenting the number of patrons for local businesses. Both the Cathedral and TCR are committed to the Cathedral remaining open and accessible during construction of the new apartment communities. The TCR development is an essential part of the Cathedral’s renewal, as well. With the proceeds from the sale of the land, the Cathedral will be able to renovate the historic Garrett Hall (formerly a girls’ school dormitory in which Lady Bird Johnson lived) to accommodate new Diocesan offices and relocate the Cathedral offices from the first floor. This will open the ground floor of Garrett Hall to be renovated into a preschool to serve a desperate need in our community – made more acute by the closures during the pandemic – for quality childcare options for working parents. An important new entrance off Ross Avenue –that will welcome visitors to the Cathedral—is also part of the project. Additionally, the proceeds of the sale will be used to create a beautiful outdoor green space which will be offered to the community as a site for concerts, art exhibitions, weddings, and other public gatherings. The Cathedral Green will be a wonderful oasis of prayerfulness and calm in the midst of a dynamic and bustling city. In addition to the financial package, TCR is making and in-kind contribution to the Cathedral of 150 parking spaces in the garage of the building on Garrett Avenue and 30 parking spaces in the garage of the building on Henderson Avenue, which will enable the current parking lot on Ross Avenue to be transformed into a ground-leased retail and restaurant area with attractive public space available for farmer’s markets and other events that bring a diverse neighborhood together and encourages all to make the Cathedral grounds their home. Finally, the financial resources derived from the sale of the land will enable St. Matthew’s Cathedral to invest in its core mission to proclaim God’s love for humanity and equip his people to share that love with one another. A key constituency served by the Cathedral’s ministries is the homeless and impoverished populations in Old East Dallas. The land development will strengthen the Cathedral’s ability to serve the most vulnerable and marginalized persons in our community. Taken together, the results of the Cathedral’s land development will enable a deeper fulfillment of our mission: “Christ—Compassion—Community.” We seek to be a people of generous and sacrificial love who extend a holy hospitality to everyone, drawing them together into a unity that overcomes our differences and shines a light into the part of God’s world in which we have been planted.
