Our Catholic and Anglican Identity
Christianity in Britain was already established and ancient by the time of the Council of Arles (314 A.D.), to which the Church in Britain sent bishops. The early Christian theologian, Tertullian (185 A.D.) writes that the cross had conquered in areas of Britain where the eagle (the Roman Empire) had not. And St Augustine of Canterbury writes to Pope Gregory, after landing on British soil (597 A.D.), that the British Church already had its own ancient order, government and liturgy. Evidently,Christianity came to Britain very early - most likely during the first century or by the end of the second. This is the beginning of our history. This English branch of Christ's Catholic Church gradually came under the government of the Roman see during the Middle Ages but then regained the responsibility of regulating her own affairs during the necessary corrections which occurred in her life at the time of the English Reformation in the 16th century. As the English through trade and settlement moved throughout the world from the 16th century on, the English Church went with them. Thus the Anglican Communion is that branch of Christ's Catholic Church which was established early on in England and now spans the globe, numbering over 80 million souls. Among the primates (head bishops) of the Communion's provinces, the Archbishop of Canterbury (England) exercises a primacy of honor and oversight. The present Archbishop of Canterbury is the Most Rev'd Rowan Williams.
Following the Revolutionary War and the separation from England, the Anglican Church in the United States organized itself and came to be styled as the Episcopal Church. St Matthias' was founded in 1960 by members of the Episcopal Diocese of Dallas, of which the parish remained a member until early January 2007. In that month, the parish was received into the Province of the Southern Cone of America, one of the thirty-eight provinces of the Anglican Communion. The Primate of the Southern Cone, the Most Rev'd Gregory Venables, placed St Matthias' within his personal diocese, Argentina. In 2009, with the departure of the Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth from the Episcopal Church in November 2008 and its entrance into the Province of the Southern Cone, St Matthias' became a parish within the Diocese of Fort Worth.
As a parish of Christ's One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church within its Anglican stream, St Matthias' seeks to proclaim, teach, and live only the historic Faith and Order of Christ's Church: that which has been believed "at all times, in all places, and by all."
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The Rev'd Fr Dwight Douglass Duncan, ssc, RectorFr Duncan hails from the state of Virginia where he began his ordained ministry in 1971. He and his wife, Jean, married in 1969, have two sons and two granddaughters. He's been Rector of St Matthias' since 1977, and says that while he has experienced every emotion in the book while being the head of this family, he's NEVER been bored! His gratitude to God for being part of St Matthias' overflows. Go 
Mrs Arlene Dagadu, Parish AdministratorA native of St Vincent, West Indies, fluent in French and Spanish, Mrs Dagadu began her ministry with us in Fall, 1997. Her reputation as an exceptional administrator has certainly been proved among us. Her organizational skills, discipline, imperturbability, attention to detail, and ability to multi-task, combined with her graciousness and kindness, make for a well-ordered, well-run, and happy parish administration.
Mrs Annette Holm Smith, Parish MusicianMrs Smith began her ministry with us in August 2006. Her over thirty years of training and experience include several long-term parish musicianships and an ongoing teaching career both in private schools and her own studio. All this have made her both a highly accomplished and highly regarded church musician. What with her musical gifts, and her energy, verve, and delightful personality, she is a great addition to the parish ministerial staff.
We worship God our heavenly Father in the power of the Holy Spirit, as he has authoritatively revealed himself in his only Son, Jesus, the Lord and Savior.People who visit St Matthias' often comment on the joy of our worship and the beauty of our liturgy. If this is true, it is only because we ourselves want to be--in the words of Mother Theresa--"something beautiful for God," and we know that God is worthy of the best we can offer him.To see a listing of our liturgies, offered daily, go to our 
We equip men and women of all ages with the treasures of scriptural teaching and sacramental grace, so that they may know, love, and serve Jesus Christ faithfully in this life, and enjoy him forever in the next. Being a Christian means being a disciple, and we are a parish where teaching and learning are central.Besides our Christian Education hour on Sunday morning, we offer courses throughout the year on weekday evenings. (Check out our 
St Matthiasites are involved in their community. This includes a tutoring program the parish sponsors at a neighborhood primary school, a ministry to the needy in our north-west Dallas area, and a homeless shelter downtown.
MattinsA service of morning praise and prayer.
