Walter Robert Matthews CH KCVO[2] (22 September 1881 – 4 December 1973) was an Anglican priest, theologian, and philosopher.

[3] Born on 22 September 1881 in Camberwell, London, to parents Philip Walter Matthews, a banker, and Sophia Alice Self, he was educated at Wilson's School[4] and trained for the priesthood at King's College London.

At the time of his appointment, he was president-elect of the Modern Churchmen's Union.

[12] On 2 June 1940 the term "miracle of Dunkirk" was used for the first time by Matthews in a speech.

He was praising the rescue of thousands of British soldiers and their allies from being encircled by the German Army in France.