Laying the Foundation Stone, Thursday 8th November 1849
According to a report in the ‘Daily News’ of 9th November 1849 [4], work on the building of St Matthew’s church had been in progress for some time by November 1849 as the requisite funds had been raised apart from those for the tower and spire. [It was originally planned to have a spire as well].
The newspaper report began:
‘The spiritual destitution which prevailed in a considerable proportion of the city of Westminster some years since excited attention and consequently no less than five new churches, during eleven years, have been erected in the parishes of St Margaret and St John the Evangelist’.