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.
In 1998, Villa Montessori moved into the upper courtyard buildings to house their middle school classrooms, where they remained until 2016.
In 2013, the parish undertook a sanctuary beautification process that included complete renovation and reorientation of the interior, culminating with the addition of beautiful stained glass windows.
A renovation of the interior of the lower campus buildings occurred in 2014 due to severe flooding.
The church grounds reflect a 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 were renovated once again in anticipation of new opportunities and ministries.
St. Stephen's House and The Cottage are now being rented out by Valley Alano Club, which is group that hosts multiple different types of Alcoholics Anonymous Meetings. They have also established a beautiful community garden that produces various vegetables and flowers.
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.
In 1998, Villa Montessori moved into the upper courtyard buildings to house their middle school classrooms, where they remained until 2016.
In 2013, the parish undertook a sanctuary beautification process that included complete renovation and reorientation of the interior, culminating with the addition of beautiful stained glass windows.
A renovation of the interior of the lower campus buildings occurred in 2014 due to severe flooding.
The church grounds reflect a 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 were renovated once again in anticipation of new opportunities and ministries.
St. Stephen's House and The Cottage are now being rented out by Valley Alano Club, which is group that hosts multiple different types of Alcoholics Anonymous Meetings. They have also established a beautiful community garden that produces various vegetables and flowers.
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Clergy History
The Rev. Canon Daniel Tantimonaco, Priest-In-Charge May 2020 - Present
The Rev. Cathy Clark, Rector January 2019 - January 2020
The Rev. Canon Harry Way, Interim Rector November 2017 - December 2018
The Rev. Julie O'Brien, Rector February 2012 - September 2017
The Rev. Canon Harry Way, Supply Priest November 2011 - January 2012
The Rev. Gwen Fry, Rector April 2007 - October 2011
The Rev. Nicholas Romans, Priest-In-Charge July 2006 - April 2007
The Rev. Elizabeth Husky Simmons, Rector July 1999 - June 2006
The Rev. Kerry Neuhardt, Interim Rector 1998 - 1999
The Rt. Rev. David Bailey, Rector 1981 - 1998
The Rev. Bill Pottinger, Interim Rector 1980 - 1981
The Rev. Leland Jones, Rector 1975 - 1980
The Rev. Dr. Arthur Rudolph, Rector 1972 - 1975
The Rev. Richard Beekman, Rector 1970 - 1972
The Rev. Richard Westcott, Vicar and Rector 1962 - 1970
The Rev. Canon Daniel Tantimonaco, Priest-In-Charge May 2020 - Present
The Rev. Cathy Clark, Rector January 2019 - January 2020
The Rev. Canon Harry Way, Interim Rector November 2017 - December 2018
The Rev. Julie O'Brien, Rector February 2012 - September 2017
The Rev. Canon Harry Way, Supply Priest November 2011 - January 2012
The Rev. Gwen Fry, Rector April 2007 - October 2011
The Rev. Nicholas Romans, Priest-In-Charge July 2006 - April 2007
The Rev. Elizabeth Husky Simmons, Rector July 1999 - June 2006
The Rev. Kerry Neuhardt, Interim Rector 1998 - 1999
The Rt. Rev. David Bailey, Rector 1981 - 1998
The Rev. Bill Pottinger, Interim Rector 1980 - 1981
The Rev. Leland Jones, Rector 1975 - 1980
The Rev. Dr. Arthur Rudolph, Rector 1972 - 1975
The Rev. Richard Beekman, Rector 1970 - 1972
The Rev. Richard Westcott, Vicar and Rector 1962 - 1970
