St. Matthew’s was created in 2004 when the Rev. Steven J. Dewey resigned as rector of Grace Episcopal Church in Lapeer and established St. Matthew’s as an Anglican church under the leadership of the Anglican Church of Bolivia. Irvin, 55, fills the vacancy created when Dewey died Oct. 13, 2006.
“I am delighted to be part of such a loving church community dedicated to becoming a Great Commission congregation,” said Irvin. “St. Matthew’s purpose is to be committed to making disciples and loving both God and our neighbors.”
A native of Jasper, Texas, Irvin was a teenager when his family moved to Ohio, where he was an athlete while attending Cleveland State University. Irvin said he was brought up in the Episcopal Church but said he left as a youth because of the church’s liberalism.