In the mid-1800s, quite a lot of the land we know now as the Historic District was owned by just a few people. In order to raise tax revenue, Chapter 24 of the Act of the General Assembly of Maryland passed in 1866 authorized the Commissioners of Havre de Grace to direct the Bailiff to sell and convey certain parcels of land. At that time the Bailiff was William R. Young and he proceeded to do so; as a result his name appears in many property deeds.

Bailiff Young sold the two lots on which this church now stands to Robert R. Vandiver (1808-1885) in 1866 and 1870. The land passed to his son, Murray Vandiver (1845-1916) and his wife, Annie, and upon Murray’s death his wife and others sold the land to the African Union Methodist Protestant Church in 1919. However, because the Church was an unincorporated association it was unable to formally acquire title to real estate. Manley’s Chapel, named after its pastor, Reverend Manley, had already begun around 1880 as a family church and was in a much smaller building here. In 1921, however, the church became incorporated under the name of Manley Chapel African Union Methodist Protestant Church and its members voted to build a new church.

The members succeeded and the new church was established in 1923, dedicated in 1927, and renamed Saint Matthew Memorial African Union Methodist Protestant Church. The 1904 and 1910 Sanborn Insurance Maps show the “Manley Chapel” in this location, the 1921 Sanborn Map shows this as “Emanuel’s Chapel, Colored,” and the 1930 Sanborn Map shows this as “St. Matthew Memorial Church.” This building is now known as the St. Matthew African Union Methodist Protestant (AUMP) Church.

With the onset of the Depression, a bleak financial era for everyone, the new church struggled but with the help of the ladies and members of the church, and the support of the community and other churches, it succeeded in meeting its financial obligations. St. Matthew’s exists today as an active, sustaining member of the African Union Methodist Protestant Church and the community. St. Matthew’s greatly supported the former Havre de Grace Colored High School on Alliance Street by providing space for high school music classes, assemblies, and industrial art classes in the church, which also served as the school’s auditorium.  

The church hosts many events throughout the year including an annual Walk-a-Thon and special luncheons and celebrations, often accompanied by Angela Hayward on the piano. In June 2017 the Church’s 2017 Legacy & Honors Luncheon honored Robert "Bobby" Parker (among others) who grew up nearby on Alliance Street and who in 2013 was inducted into the Havre de Grace High School Hall of Fame. He is now a well-known photographer and a Board Member of the Havre de Grace Colored School Museum and Cultural Center.

The AUMP is also a member of The Susquehanna Ministerium, a group of multi-denominations joined together in the community to provide ministry and mutual support for each other and those in need of help. The AUMP is one of several churches that is part of the Ministerium’s annual tour of decorated Havre de Grace churches during Christmas week.

County Records
Built 1920. 2423 sq ft church. Exempt commercial. 6000 sq ft lot.