A Brief History of Christ & St. Stephen's Church

Unless the Lord builds the house, their labor is in vain who build it. BCP, Psalm 127:1 

Christ & Saint Stephen’s Church is comprised of two of the oldest parishes in the City of New York.

The inaugural ceremony of Saint Stephen's Church took place on Saint Stephen's Day, December 26, 1805. Situated on the corner of what is now Broome and Chrystie Streets, Saint Stephen’s was the fifth Episcopal parish in the Diocese of New York.

As the city’s population shifted uptown, The Seventh rector, the Reverend Joseph H. Price convinced his congregation to sell the poorly constructed original church building in 1866. The congregation led a nomadic existence until 1873 when Saint Stephen's merged with the Church of the Advent on West 46th Street. Over time, this location proved unsuitable as well, and in 1897 the ninth rector, the Reverend Charles Russell Treat led the parish in the purchase of a chapel on West 69th Street on Manhattan’s Upper West Side owned by the Church of the Transfiguration. The first service of Saint Stephen’s Church was held at what is now our present site on October 3, 1897.

By 1905 frictions began to develop between Saint Stephen's and its Episcopal neighbor Christ Church. This congregation, like Saint Stephen's, had migrated northward until 1890 when it settled on West 71st Street. The second Episcopal parish established in New York, in 1973, Christ Church was older and larger in size. As a consequence they were dismayed at being one of two Episcopal churches in close proximity. After their complaint to the Standing Committee failed to remove their new, unwelcome parish neighbor, they brought a civil suit against Saint Stephen's for infringing upon parish boundaries. The suit failed also and Saint Stephen's was allowed to retain its new home and its autonomy. In the boom years after the Second World War, the parish was able to retire all debt on its property and on May 7, 1953 a "public burning" of the mortgage took place -- for the first time in its history the parish was free from debt in a building of its own.

When the Rev. Joseph H. Price began his 38 year rectorship at Saint Stephen’s in 1837 he began a pattern of intermittent lengthy rectorships. Among the rectors who have devoted significant portions of their lives to Saint Stephen’s Church are Abram Hart (17 years), Nathan Seagle (43 years), and Wilson Sutton (13 years). That pattern was continued with the Reverend Joseph Zorawick who served from1968 to 1996.

Like many city parish’s Saint Stephen’s has grappled with social and political challenges over the years – declining church attendance and influence, social conflicts over the war in Viet Nam and the Civil Rights movement. At one point the “Middle Class” was leaving the city in droves, rents fell off from buildings Saint Stephen's owned on Broadway, maintenance costs of the church building increased, and the construction of Lincoln Center caused the displacement of hundreds within the neighborhood. As a result, the congregations of Saint Stephen's and Christ Church deteriorated, averaging fewer than 40 people each at eleven o'clock services on Sunday.

Talks were initiated to bring about a merger between the neighboring parishes with the hope that this joint effort could better serve the mission of the Episcopal Church. In 1975, the parishes merged into Christ & Saint Stephen’s Church under the leadership of Father Zorawick. With Lincoln Center’s construction, Saint Cyprian’s Church, a largely African-American parish, was displaced. Many of Saint Cyprian’s congregation joined Christ & Saint Stephen’s Church.

In the 1960s and 70s a number of socially oriented ministries were established, including the Brown Bag Lunch Program which continues to this day, providing more than 20,000 bag lunches to hungry neighbors per year.

On November 21, 1998, the Rev. L. Kathleen Liles was instituted as the second rector of the combined parishes of Christ & Saint Stephen’s. The parish continues to operate its lunch program and participates with the overnight shelter at nearby Rutgers Presbyterian. A special fund resulting from the sale of the parish’s air rights under the leadership of Father Zorawick continues to make it possible for Christ & Saint Stephen’s to award approximately $45,000 per year in Outreach Grants to other worthy organizations.

Since 2004 property matters have taken the congregation’s attention, beginning with a ceiling collapse which destroyed the old and ailing organ. This collapse led to the discovery of original Victorian stenciling that had once graced the church. After a major capital campaign, the ceiling was repaired and the restored interior incorporated much of the Victorian era painted decoration. In addition, a new Schoenstein & Co. Opus 153 organ was built by the venerated San Francisco organ maker and was dedicated on Trinity Sunday of 2008 by Mark S. Sisk, XV Bishop of New York. The new organ has been celebrated with a series of dedicatory concerts featuring noted organists Paul Jacobs, Nigel Potts and Thomas Murray.  Mr. Jacobs, chair of the organ department at The Julliard School, is the current Artist-in-Residence. Nigel Potts is organist and choirmaster, and Robert J. Russell is Director of Music Emeritus. Due to its strong tradition of excellent music, and its proximity to Lincoln Center and The Julliard School, Christ & Saint Stephen’s Church is the site of numerous concerts and musical performances.

Sunday worship includes church school and child care and a professional choir. Morning and Evening Prayer is offered every weekday, along with a mid-week Eucharist.

The congregation is comprised of all ages and active youth programs give the church a vital ethos. With a roster of approximately 460 persons, there are numerous programs to engage an active membership.