Welcome to St Stephen’s Church website, in the Benefice with St Mary’s, Charlcombe. Known as ‘the beacon of Lansdown’ because of its elevated and floodlit city skyline profile, St Stephen’s has been welcoming worshippers since 1840.
St Stephen's is an inclusive Anglican church, and we welcome everyone and positivitely invite them to take an active role in all parts of ministry for which God has gifted them. We are pleased to offer Prayers of Love and Faith as a first step towards greater inclusion, for which we pray and work. Our core values are Generosity, Hospitality and Inclusion - three marks of the nature of God's love and welcome for each person.
Each Sunday we gather at 10.45 am for a communion service, on the 1st and 3rd Sundays the choir lead our musical worship. Worship in the Round is our informal non-communion service on the 4th Sunday of each month. There's also ‘Hangout’ each week for children, with a riotous family service, Scruffy Church, every 4th Sunday at 4pm. Every 1st and 3rd Sunday, our young people celebrate with a Cool Fun and Faith gathering at 7 pm in St Stephen's Centre. We're traditional in style, but into this we breathe space for reflection. There are many other chances to gather for different kinds of worship both here and at our sister church, St Mary’s, Charlcombe.
Everyone is assured of a warm welcome. Whether you’re visiting, recently moved to the parish, or are seeking a church and community to be at home in, we will be delighted to greet you. The church is usually open on Saturday mornings (10am to 12 noon) with tea, coffee and company to enjoy! Should you wish to make a special visit, we’d be very happy to arrange this so please contact us.
We’d love to meet you, hear your story, and share more about St Stephen’s with you.
May the deep, kind and liberating peace of God be in your heart and home.
Revd Philip Hawthorn, Rector