Saint Matthew's Episcopal Church offers a wide variety of activities for members of its congregation. Events include secular activities such as auctions, clambakes, picnics, and spiritual activities like prayer meetings and celebration of the holy Eucharist (twice on Sundays, once on Wednesdays). St. Matthew's is involved with several charities, including the Norwalk Emergency Shelter and the Edwards Chest, which collects food and other items for the poor; the Bishop's Fund, which collects money for children at risk; and Bread & Roses, a charity for victims of AIDS. As a community, St. Matthew's is devoted to the arts, especially music, which is used as an inspiration for faith. In addition to hosting regional and national artists (most recently the Manhattan Choral Ensemble), St. Matthew's itself has five choirs organized by age. Director of Music Rodney Ayers oversees these choral activities and maintains the two instruments most often used in St. Matthew's worship: a 1971 Helmut Wolff tracker organ and a restored Steinway grand piano dating back to 1929. St. Matthew's is steeped in history and can trace its origins to 1802, the same year Wilton was incorporated. From 1864 to 1972, St. Matthew's was located in the Old Stone Church on Danbury Road (which now houses Wilton Baptist Church), but St. Matthew's had to move to its current location to accommodate a growing congregation. St. Matthew's places an emphasis on religious education, with programs for children, adults, and especially teenagers. St. Matthew's shares this goal of religious education with the Wilton Presbyterian Church. The St. Matthew's Web site describes this partnership as a "legal and practical and spiritual joint venture," in which the two churches co-own property, operate under an umbrella budget, and are run by the same board of directors. Key staff for the church includes "lay leadership" such as facilities coordinator Sandy Muschler and clergy such as rectors Mary Grace Williams and John A. Satula.St. Matthew's welcomes newcomers, and can be contacted at 203-762-7400.