St. Stephen’s History

A white wood frame building with double screen doors on the front and a cross at the apex of the roof. It is a pier and beam structure on a partially wooded lot.
A tan building with double red doors on the front and greenery on either side of the porch.
A wide cement walkway leading to the double doors of a sandstone building with double doors on the front. The walkway is lined with shrubbery. There is a bell tower on the left side of the photo.

In 1952, ten families in Beaumont's west end, encouraged by St. Mark’s Episcopal Church Beaumont, formed St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church. Initially named “St. Paul’s,” it was later renamed St. Stephen’s to avoid confusion with a local Methodist Church. Early services were held in parishioner homes and then in the storage room of Plettman’s Grocery on the corner of Central and Gladys Streets. St. Stephen’s was jokingly referred to as "St. Plettman's” during this time.

The church acquired eleven acres on Delaware Street in 1953, and the first permanent building, a former school house was purchased and moved to the property. 1954 saw the build and dedication of the building which now houses the parish offices. The Reverend Frank Doremus was the first vicar (head clergy for a mission church) of St. Stephen’s in 1956 while we were still a mission (requiring support from the Diocese). In 1957, St. Stephen’s achieved full parish status (self-supporting), and Reverend Ray Ryland became the first rector (head clergy for a parish church).

The original ten families quickly grew to 180, necessitating the construction of a 400-seat sanctuary which was dedicated on Easter Sunday of 1959. Outreach ministries have always been important to St. Stephen’s. From "Project Concern," Beaumont's first recycling program which started in 1971 to fund summer camp scholarships to local, national and international mission trips, St. Stephen’s has worked tirelessly to serve.

The Reverend Byron Crocker, St. Stephen’s longest serving rector with 20 years of service, was present in 1977, when groundbreaking for Broce Hall (the parish hall) occurred, and a new rectory (clergy housing) was purchased. Reverend Nancy DeForest was present for the building and dedication of the Johnson-Roberts Christian Education Building in 2011.
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St. Stephen’s celebrated its 70th Anniversary in 2022 with friends from near and far. With the arrival of The Reverend Curt Norman in the fall of 2025 St. Stephen’s is excited to see what the future holds.

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