History of St. Matthew Lutheran Church On September 21, 1858, a Lutheran congregation was formed in Galena, Illinois. Six years later its building was finished on a lot that had stood empty when Ulysses S. Grant lived two doors away. It was near the end of the Civil War, 1864. We are a part of old Galena, but we are much more than history... St. Matthew Lutheran Church lives on today as a congregation of God's redeemed people. Through the Word of God and the Sacraments, Baptism and Communion, we provide direction and values, encouragement and friendship, celebrations of important moments in people's lives, strength and support. It is a scientifically established fact that persons in close contact with their churches experience generally greater benefits than others, benefits ranging from better mental and physical health to greater personal fulfillment. Such is the ministry of this church. We seek to provide what was meant by the Old Testament word shalom: peace and wholeness. We firmly believe that human experience is never complete without an ongoing relationship to the Lord Jesus Christ. This is why Jesus is characterized in the New Testament by words such as life, light, and truth. No one can have without Jesus what believers have with Jesus. That is why he said, "No one comes to the Father but by me." our faithour congregationservice times and locationsin the community beyond the communityan invitationwedding policies e-mail the pastor at stmattlc@sbcglobal.net	St. Matthew was founded in 1858. Ulysses S. Grant grew up in Galena and walked past St. Matthew church on his way to his father's shop. St. Matthew is a member congregation of the ELCA (Evangelical Lutheran Church of America) St. Matthew professes the saving grace of our Lord, Jesus Christ.