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The History of St. Stephen's

Flora McFarlane

 In 1886 Miss Flora McFarlane came to the swamplands of Coconut Grove, Florida, from London, England, and made her home here.
St. Stephen's 1920 The first few years were spent in raising funds to build a church, and in 1912, work on the first St. Stephen's Church building on Main Highway began - the building that now houses the “Heart of the Grove Art Gallery and Gift Shop.”
The Rev. C.P. Jackson, DD The Rev. C.P. Jackson was priest-in-charge of the "Mission" of St. Stephen's in the early days of the church.  He resigned, as was the custom, when the church was established and a permanent Rector found.
Rev. William Benjamine Soper Father Soper was St. Stephen's first Rector and served here for 28 years, from 1915 until his death in 1941.  During his tenure, Coconut Grove was a sleepy little vacation spot, isolated from the rest of the country and largely ignored by travellers.  In 1919, the Church was enlarged and the cloister added under his supervision.
Rev. Rex Wilkes During World War II, thousands of soldiers and sailors descended upon South Florida for training, and services were soon overflowing under Father Wilkes.  In 1945 he wrote: This was a year of extremes, of tensions, calamities, and celebrations.  It was the year of victory in Europe and the Far East, the Year of the San Francisco Conference, the Year of the Atomic bomb.  Men do not quickly rebound from such events. He considered us fortunate in that Coconut Grove had no hotels and few rooming houses, so that our congregation was fairly stable by comparison to those in other parts of the country.  But still, he lamented what he called "a shifting fringe"of continually new members.
Rev. William D. Hanner January 1949 to August 1956

Ground Breaking

Ground was broken for the new Church building on McFarlane Road in 1954.
Rev. Don Copeland

The Day School was founded in 1958 under Father Copeland. Today it is one of the foremost elementary schools in the Miami area.

The new church on McFarlane Road was consecrated and dedicated to the service of God on October 4, 1959.
Rev. Samuel C.W. Fleming 1963 to 1965
Rev. Paul Reeves
Rev. Allen R. Hingston October 1969 to January 1, 1988

Rev. Richard N. Walkley, Interim Rector from Jan 1988 - August 1989

 
Rev. Robert McCloskey
Rev. Howard Stowe, Interim Pastor from December 1999 - August 2001

 

Rev. Wilifred Allen-Faiella - August 2001 - Present

 

Today, we take pride in our diversity.  We are located in the center of the ever-changing business and entertainment district of Coconut Grove.  The parish runs “Heart of the Grove Art Gallery and Gift Shop,” the St. Stephen’s Arts & Crafts Festival, consistently ranked in the top 50 shows in the nation, and a parking concession.

The congregation at St. Stephen's not only gives generously to the community through its own outreach programs, but it contributes regularly to community charities: the Homeless Assistance Center in Miami, the Coconut Grove Food Pantry at Christ Church, Trinity Cathedral's "Feed My Sheep" program, the Thelma Gibson House, and the Lotus House, among others.

 
 

Service Times

Wednesday noon - Healing Eucharist in the Side Chapel, without Sermon

Upcoming Events

Sun Apr 21 @ 9:30AM -The Big God Questions - Invest 2 for Adults
Sun Apr 21 @10:15AM -Youth Group Car Wash at St. Stephen's
Sat Apr 27 @ 9:00AM -Grove Churches Walk
The_Prosperity_CenterAt our St. Stephen's Prosperity Center, IRS certified volunteers prepare and e-file tax returns on behalf of area residents with household incomes under $50,000.  Like our Facebook page.
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Daily prayer

Daily prayer

Gracious and generous God, everything we have and all that we are comes from you, and you call us to be faithful stewards of our time, talent and trea...

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