St. Matthews Anglican Church - Riverview, Florida Serving South Tampa 

St. Matthew's Anglican Church

St. Matthew's Anglican Church is a parish of the Diocese of The Eastern United States, Anglican Province of America, a part of the historic Holy Catholic Church, tracing its teachings and ministry to the early Apostolic Church . It is a part of the worldwide Continuing Anglican Movement.

In worship, we use the Book of Common Prayer, 1928 edition. This edition contains prayers and affirmations of faith dating to the beginning of Christianity, as well as the traditional Anglican Episcopal liturgy. This liturgy has been in continuous use since it was first published in 1549. The congregation actively participates in the service. As an expression of devotion, it is customary to kneel for prayers and for receiving the Holy Communion unless a person is physically unable to do so. We sit to receive instruction as we do when scriptural lessons are read or when a sermon is given. We stand in reverence at the reading of the Holy Gospel and in affirming our faith when reciting the Creed. We also stand to sing praise to God in our hymns.

Church Etiquette

" The Lord is in his holy temple: let all the earth keep silence before him."

To honor the temple of God please observe the following:

Upon entering the Nave, please be thoughtful, be silent, and be reverent. Remember into Whose living presence you have come, for this is the House of God. Before the Service, kneel down humbly and pray to the Lord. During the Service, let the Lord speak to you; fasten thoughts firmly on the Service. After the Service, remember where you are and what you have done. Be reverent as you leave the nave. Speak to one another in the narthex and parish hall.

If you arrive late, please enter the Nave during hymns, not during prayers.

One should be aware of the Invitation, Confession and Absolution and not receive Communion if you have come into church after the General Confession.

If you wish to receive Communion, come forward using the center aisle, take your place in the double line, and fill the altar rail at the direction of the usher. Receive the bread into the palm of your hand or onto your tongue. You may then do one of three things: (1) consume the bread and sip from the chalice as it is offered to you. Women are requested to blot lipstick before consuming wine from the chalice; (2) leave the bread in your open palm and let the chalice bearer take it, and dip it in the wine and place it on your tongue; or (3) abstain from receiving the wine by crossing your arms in front of you. Return to your seat via the side aisles.

We teach and believe that children are covered by baptismal grace. At the age of discretion, children are given Catechism and Confirmation instruction after which they receive the Sacrament of Confirmation conferred by a Bishop. Until such time as a child is confirmed, we encourage parents to bring their children to the Altar.

Holy Communion Policy

This church is a traditional Anglican - Episcopal - Catholic Church which uses the 1928 Book of Common Prayer. We adhere to the practice of individuals being confirmed by a Bishop of valid Apostolic Succession before receiving Holy Communion. This practice in Anglicanism is a balance between catholic and reformed teaching and is Scripturally based partly on St. Paul 's words in I Corinthians 11:29 , ". . . discerning the Lord's body."

We are well aware that other traditions allow small children, even infants, to receive the sacrament. The Eastern Orthodox Churches, for example, follow this practice. The Roman Catholic Church has a "First Communion" which allows children approximately seven years old to receive after instruction.

The mainline Episcopal Church does not seem to have a policy on this matter and it appears to be left to individual dioceses and local option. Thus, there can be confusion at times when people visit this mission from other churches where the practice is to allow unconfirmed children to receive.

We teach and believe that children are covered by Baptismal grace. At the age of discretion, children are given Catechism and Confirmation instruction after which they receive the Sacrament of confirmation conferred by a Bishop.

In Catechism Class, children are taught, among other things, the meaning of the "Real Presence" in the Sacrament of the Altar. At Confirmation, a person makes his/her public profession to follow Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and receives the grace and gifts of God's Holy Spirit to use his/her unique talents in the service of Christ's Church. Until such time as a child is confirmed, we encourage parents to bring their children to the Altar at Communion time to receive a blessing from the Priest.

Should you have further questions regarding this subject, please contact the Priest of this Parish.