[Founded in 1865]

This church was established at the close of the Civil War as Freedmens Chapel in 1865, known as Trinity Chapel 1867-1894, and named St. Matthias in 1896.

It was at the close of the Civil War when everything in the South looked gloomy indeed, there were found in the little village of Asheville a good and brave man and his wife, equally good and brave, whose faith looked beyond the things that were seen and wisely realized the grand opportunity which was offered to their church to do effective work among the colored people, then generally spoken of as Freedmen. These persons were General and Mrs. James S. Martin, the former a citizen of North Carolina and the latter a member of the King family, well known in New York. Their work was started in Trinity Church, where each Sunday afternoon, a crowd of colored people were collected and drilled in Catechism and other teachings of the church. It is well remembered by some who were then honored by being chosen as juniors in this work, how heartily the learners sang the chants, hymns, responses and repeated the catechism Sunday after Sunday, so writes fifty-five years ago Captain Thomas W. Patton, who was an honored member of Trinity Church. After two years (1867) a chapel was built in the section of town where the colored people lived, with an ample basement where a parochial day school was conducted. This school was established in 1870 under the guidance of Dr. Buxton, there being no public school until 1888. The chapel was a frame building costing $1350.00. The property consisted of five acres. Ten communicants were reported at the time.

It seems the first priest for the colored race to assume charge of the work came in 1874: Reverend S. V. Berry from Western New York.

In 1872, according to the Diocesan Journal, "the colored Sunday school has been faithfully kept up by teachers out of the congregation of Trinity Church under General Martin. One hundred and twenty pupils are reported in the Sunday school and seventy one in day school."

The rector of Trinity Church, Reverend Jarvis Buxton, held a service at the chapel, which was called Trinity Chapel, once a month. This was one of several mission churches that Dr. Buxton had under his care. Under Mr. Berry, the work began to grow. At Bishop Atkinson's visitation in 1874, seven persons were confirmed. Sunday school pupils that year are given as one hundred and fifty, and one hundred and fifteen in the day school. In 1885, Mr. Berry resigned from the Mission of Trinity Chapel returning to New York where he died in 1887. Age and ill health occasioned his resignation. He left with the love and respect of his flock. Mr. Berry had served the mission for fourteen years. He was nearly sixty years of age coming into the mission. He had been made deacon and priest in St. Phillips Church in New York City. Reverend J. B. Massiah was sent from Raleigh to assist him in 1885, but Reverend Massiah resigned in 1886 having accepted a call to New Jersey. Reverend E. H. Butler was sent from Tarboro, but stayed only a short while.

The church was left without a minister for five or six months. Then, Reverend H. S. Ducey was sent here from Fayetteville. He found the work in a very discouraging condition and badly organized. Many of the members had drifted away and it was some time before he could get them together again.

Reverend Henry Stephen McDuffey took charge in 1887, coming from the Diocese of Eastern Carolina. The congregation grew so large that it became necessary to build a larger church building. On February 22, 1894, the cornerstone was laid for the present building. The building was completed in 1896. The Church had its first service in the new building on Easter Sunday of that year with a large choir under the direction of Professor C. H. Baker then General Secretary of the Young Men's Institute of Asheville. The choir consisted of twenty-six voices and an orchestra of twelve pieces, known as the YMI orchestra.

The Church was consecrated July 7, 1896, by Bishop Joseph Cheshire. The sermon was preached by Reverend John N. W. Pollard, and the name of the church was changed from Trinity Chapel to St. Matthias Mission.

After approximately eighteen years, Reverend McDuffey resigned having accepted a call to Long Island, New York and from there to Philadelphia. It is noteworthy that after ten years of Reverend McDuffey's ministry, the number of communicants was one hundred three. Also, there were seventy-eight scholars in Sunday school and one hundred eighteen in the parish day school.

The next minister was Reverend W. J. Heritage of Edenton. After several years of successful work, he returned to his former work in Edenton. The Church was again without a minister for fifteen months but the work was kept going by the services of visiting ministers and lay readers.

The Reverend J. T. Kennedy was sent from Franklinton to St. Matthias. He was then a deacon, but soon became a priest and was put in full charge. It was during his stay that the Church became a parish. The first vestry was: Dr. R. H. Bryant, Senior Warden; John H. Baird, Junior Warden; E. W. Miller, Treasurer; C. J. Morrow, J. H. McGinnis, J. H. Hamilton, J. B. Dixon, J. J. Mason, Dr. L. O. Miller, and F. H. Harris. Reverend Kennedy became the first rector of St. Matthias Church.

The land on which the church now stands was given by Captain Thomas W. Patton of Trinity Church. There is a side chapel, which was consecrated in 1901 by Bishop Horner.

One cannot help but admire the structure of St. Matthias Church. It is a brick building of Gothic design, with a pointed rood and pointed windows. The seating capacity exceeds 550. The Diocesan records show that St. Matthias was the first organized Negro congregation in the diocese of North Carolina.

Other Facts:

1. The present structure was built by James Victor Miller, a black contractor of Asheville, N.C. The building was complete in 1896.
2. The paten and chalice were given to the church in 1896 and are still used for services.
3. The pipe organ, according to the records, was purchased in 1897 and is still in use for services.
4. The interior ceiling is of geometric design and hand carved. It is said to have been patterned by craftsmen from the Vanderbilt estates.

Sell, James B.  Historical Sketches, Diocese of Western North Carolina

Journal of Trinity Episcopal Church, "One Hundred and Twenty Fifth Anniversary, in the Year of Our Lord, 1974"

Diocesan Journal of Western North Carolina

Duncan, Norvin C., Rev..  Pictorial History of the Episcopal Church in North Carolina, 1710-1964