St. Matthews is a mission church that was an outreach of the Episcopal “Order of the Holy Cross” in Valle Crucis in Watauga County North Carolina. The chapel was built in Todd North Carolina in 1910 on land that was probably donated by the Dobbin Family. Hugh A. Dobbin settled in the Todd area in the 1830’s & 40’s. He ran a dry goods store in Todd before the Civil War. One of his sons was ordained in the Episcopal Church in 1909 and his daughter, Anne Dobbin Miller, looked after the church until she passed away in 1959. Another son, Nimrod, is buried with his wife in the small churchyard behind the chapel. St. Matthews is owned by the Western North Carolina Diocese and although it is not active at present, Episcopal weddings are permitted on the property. The chapel has undergone some restoration through the years and at present the Todd Community Preservation Organization is working with the diocese to assist in preservation of this historic community landmark. |
