The patronage of the benefice had been placed in the hands of the Diocesan Board and it was from then that Canon Rowden Hussey's priest son Walter received the invitation to succeed him. Fr Walter Hussey was unlike his forceful father in manner, but was in his own way to make a contribution to the life of St Matthew's as great as any made by its founding pastor. As a curate in Kensington he had got to know as personal friends many who already were, or were to become, leading figures in the world of literature and the arts. Fr Hussey was driven by the desire to build a bridge between the church and modern artists through adventurous commissions.

When he came to St Matthew's, albeit reluctantly, he was determined to turn his convictions into action. Though the liturgy and life of the parish remained largely unchanged from his father's day, he proceeded throughout the thirteen years of his incumbency to commission for St Matthew's, often at extraordinarily low cost, an outstanding succession of fine works of art. Moore's sculpture and Sutherland's painting are the tangible evidences of this in the church, but musical works by Britten (Rejoice in the Lamb), Rubbra, Finzi and Howells were also obtained, and literary commissions by Auden and Norman Nicholson were undertaken. Canon Walter Hussey's pre-eminence in this field of the church and the arts was recognised by his appointment in 1950 to the Deanery of Chichester where he was to continue his pioneering work.

A Succession of Priests

His successor, Father Charles Mackenzie OBE came to St Matthew's from Dulwich, with a reputation as an evangelist, preacher and skilled parish priest. He seems to have felt that St Matthew's needed urging forward into the mainstream of contemporary Catholic thinking and liturgy and sought to make the principal mass one at which all communicated. He again was in personality and manner starkly contrasted to his predecessor. His concern was overwhelmingly for the conversion of the parish. Sadly, his energetic ministry was brought to a sudden end when he died on holiday at the age of 47 in 1961.

Fr Philip Turner came in 1962 from a charge in Crawley, and was in the event to be vicar for only four years. He threw himself into youth work, and obtained a nave altar for westward celebrations when the children of the church school attended. His own great talent and interest lay however in religious drama and some spectacular productions took place in the church during his brief incumbency. It was in fact his desire to write religious plays which helped to lead him to accept in 1966 a post in religious broadcasting.

The fifth vicar of the parish, Charles Moxon, was well equipped to uphold the tradition of excellent music at St Matthew's. He had been a choral scholar at King's College, Cambridge and Minor Canon and Sacrist of St Paul's Cathedral. He secured the services of organists of the first rank, Stephen Cleobury and Michael Nicholas, both destined for Cathedral posts, and maintained the tradition of commissioning musical works by leading composers for the church. During his eight years' incumbency, the elderly and inadequate church room was replaced by the new parish centre which stands in the grounds. It remains a tremendous boon to the church's work. Fr Moxon left St Matthew's in 1975 to become Canon Precentor of Salisbury Cathedral, where he was to enjoy ten very happy years before his retirement, sadly terminated within months by death.

Canon John I Morton

The Reverend John Morton came to St Matthew's in 1975 from St Andrew's, West Kirby in the Wirrall. Quite soon after his arrival the Church School in Byron Street had to close because of the age and unsuitability of the buildings. Church work in Kingsley began in these and has suffered in the area since the link was broken between children and families and the church.

Fr John, who became a Canon of Peterborough in 1982, continued the tradition of commissioning new works of art, notably the 14 Stations of the Cross by David Thomas, and the hanging figure of the Risen Christ, the work of the local sculptor, Malcolm Pollard, and designed as a memorial to the ministry of Dean Hussey. 1993 saw the celebration of the centenary of the work begun by Rowden Hussey.

The Revd Canon Nicholas Setterfield

Fr John retired in 1996. He was succeeded the following year by The Reverend Timothy Pilkington from St John's Millbrook in the Diocese of Truro. Fr Tim set about the comprehensive renewal of worship at St Matthew's and the development of a collaborative approach to ministry in line with contemporary insights. Under his guidance the PCC expanded the dais at the front of the nave and introduced a new altar and chairs. The Lady Chapel was also reordered, and plans were made for the rewiring and lighting of the church. In 2002 Fr Tim left St Matthew's to become Team Rector of Solihull, Birmingham.

The present incumbent, the Reverend Nicholas Setterfield, became the eighth vicar of St Matthew's in August 2003. He had formerly been Rector of Letchworth in the Diocese of St Albans. Under his tenure the renewal of the church's worship, ministry and mission is on-going, together with a concurrent renewal of the church building and its contents.

A state of the art lighting scheme with touch screen control has been installed, greatly increasing the versatility of the environment afford by St Matthew's for both worship and concert use. The liturgical arrangements at the front of the nave have been completed with the introduction of an ambo, concelebrants' chairs, and a credence table. Each is made of maple and walnut to match. The church's forced-air heating system has been renewed. Toilet and kitchen facilities at the base of the church tower completed in 2011.

In 2009 the parish's tradition of artistic patronage was renewed with the unveiling of a life-size bronze sculpture of St Matthew by Ian Rank-Broadley at the Patronal Festival. The sculpture is situated on the south side of the Quire Screen, and is widely considered a worthy addition to the church. The commission was the result of a benefaction given for the purpose by Canon John Morton, who died in 2002.

St Matthew's musical fortunes have been reinvigorated in recent years. Most notably, perhaps, the fine 1895 Walker organ, which had been ailing for many years, has been comprehensively restored. A professionally qualified Director of Music once more presides over the church's music-making, and the choir, now with a top line of boys and girls, sing to a high standard. The commissioning of new music has resumed and, in each case, been made possible by funds given for the purpose. The Friends of St Matthew's Music has been created to help sustain the musical life of the parish for the long-term.

Taking our Parish Life Forward

Following a Fan the Flame Mission in 2008 there has been a renewed emphasis on the parish's Ministry of Welcome. This is borne of a widespread recognition and desire that we meet the contemporary needs and expectations of all who come to St Matthew's for both sacred and secular purposes.

Creating a Narthex

In particular, plans are currently being formulated to establish a narthex, or antechamber, to the nave of the church. It is proposed that this be situated within the existing structure of the vault supporting the gallery at the west end. The proposal takes as a precedent the examples of such an antechamber found in early Christian churches for use by catechumens and penitents.

There has been a fresh realization that part of our challenge in developing our Ministry of Welcome is linked to the existing physical arrangements at the west end of the church. These are far from ideal and, in a number of respects, conspire to act as an impediment to our ministry and mission. Whilst we wish to be respectful of the fine Victorian environment afforded by St Matthew's, we nonetheless wish to make such changes to this part of the church as will facilitate Christian hospitality, welcome and nurture. These plans are to be published in due course.