St. Matthew's United Church (Halifax)
The church was originally an amalgam of various dissenting Protestant groups with it mostly being a mix of Scottish Presbyterians and Puritan Congregationalists from the American colonies. Over the course of the 19th century the number of Presbyterians gradually increased and they came to dominate the church. In 1787, an agreement was made to adhere closer to Church of Scotland polity. They formally joined the Church of Scotland in the 1830s and joined Presbyterian Church in Canada in 1875. In 1925, however, it returned somewhat to its roots when the United Church of Canada was formed uniting several of the major Protestant denominations including the Presbyterians and Congregationalists.
George Monro Grant, grandfather of George Parkin Grant and great-grandfather of Michael Ignatieff, was Minister from 1863 - 1877. Grant was appointed to Kingston, Ontario as Principal of Queen's University, by the Presbyterian Church in Canada's General Assembly, meeting within the congregation in June 1877. Sandford Fleming was also an Elder in congregation during Grant's tenure. The 250th Anniversary celebrated in 1999, with a new history book, A sentinel on the street; St Matthew's United Church, Halifax 1749-1999 by Elizabeth Townsend, et al.
Ministers (1751–1883)
- Rev Aaron Cleveland (1751–1753) (died in the home of his friend Benjamin Franklin)
- John Seccombe (1761–1783)
- Thomas Russell (1784–1787)
- Rev Andrew Brown Old College, the University of Edinburgh (1787–1795)
- Rev Archibald Gray (1795–1826); buried in the Old Burying Ground (Halifax, Nova Scotia)
- Rev. John Scott (minister) (1826–1883)
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Rev Aaron Cleveland (1751–1753)
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Rev Andrew Brown Old College, the University of Edinburgh (1787–1795)
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Rev Archibald Gray (1795–1826); buried in the Old Burying Ground (Halifax, Nova Scotia)
Current Minister of Word, Sacrament, and Pastoral Care: The Rev. Elizabeth (Betsy) Hogan, 2010-