Our History
St. Stephen’s began its journey in 1962 as a mission, sponsored by St. Barnabas on the Desert Episcopal Church. After meeting in a Scottsdale mortuary for about a year, in early May 1963, the property at 56th and Oak was purchased on almost five acres of desert land across the street from the western most edge of Scottsdale. The property contained an adobe house, circa 1925, and an artist’s studio. The adobe house served as Rectory and services were held in the studio.
The family of Mrs. Susan Wescott (wife of the first Rector) gave the church the beautiful black wrought iron gates from which you enter into an upper courtyard, which at the time of purchase consisted of an adobe house (circa 1925) and an artist’s studio. This area sat on almost 5 acres of beautiful desert. The adobe house remains and is called St. Stephen’s House; the studio, renamed the Cottage, served as our sanctuary for one year before the present sanctuary was built just west of the courtyard.
In the mid-1960’s a lower courtyard was added and is surrounded by an L-shaped building that was designed by renown architect Bennie Gonzales. These buildings housed St. Stephen’s Parish Day School, which opened in 1967. The school functioned until 1972 when the parish closed it. The buildings were remodeled in 1977 and a part of the space was leased to the Diocese of Arizona for a few years. Another portion of the classrooms was remodeled in 1980 to provide for the growing parish with a modern spacious kitchen, dining room and parish hall. In addition, the building has a welcoming foyer, the church office, library and church school rooms. This building is used regularly by “beyond the parish” groups such as A.A., Al-Anon, Detour Company Theatre and others.
In 1984 a Renewal Center was opened, using the original adobe building in the upper courtyard and the cottage, which were fitted with sleeping accommodations and showers and bathrooms. In 2001, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church (our neighbor to the west) was closed as an English speaking parish and became San Pablo, a Spanish speaking mission church. Many of the parishioners from St. Paul’s came to St. Stephen’s, including their entire choir, effectively doubling the size of St. Stephen’s traditional choir.
The church grounds reflect our Southwestern atmosphere – with desert landscape, Spanish influence in architecture and an informal “homey” setting. At the present time St. Stephen’s House and the Cottage are being renovated once again in anticipation of new opportunities and ministries.
The family of Mrs. Susan Wescott (wife of the first Rector) gave the church the beautiful black wrought iron gates from which you enter into an upper courtyard, which at the time of purchase consisted of an adobe house (circa 1925) and an artist’s studio. This area sat on almost 5 acres of beautiful desert. The adobe house remains and is called St. Stephen’s House; the studio, renamed the Cottage, served as our sanctuary for one year before the present sanctuary was built just west of the courtyard.
In the mid-1960’s a lower courtyard was added and is surrounded by an L-shaped building that was designed by renown architect Bennie Gonzales. These buildings housed St. Stephen’s Parish Day School, which opened in 1967. The school functioned until 1972 when the parish closed it. The buildings were remodeled in 1977 and a part of the space was leased to the Diocese of Arizona for a few years. Another portion of the classrooms was remodeled in 1980 to provide for the growing parish with a modern spacious kitchen, dining room and parish hall. In addition, the building has a welcoming foyer, the church office, library and church school rooms. This building is used regularly by “beyond the parish” groups such as A.A., Al-Anon, Detour Company Theatre and others.
In 1984 a Renewal Center was opened, using the original adobe building in the upper courtyard and the cottage, which were fitted with sleeping accommodations and showers and bathrooms. In 2001, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church (our neighbor to the west) was closed as an English speaking parish and became San Pablo, a Spanish speaking mission church. Many of the parishioners from St. Paul’s came to St. Stephen’s, including their entire choir, effectively doubling the size of St. Stephen’s traditional choir.
The church grounds reflect our Southwestern atmosphere – with desert landscape, Spanish influence in architecture and an informal “homey” setting. At the present time St. Stephen’s House and the Cottage are being renovated once again in anticipation of new opportunities and ministries.
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