It is very likely that they prayed, read scripture, and sang hymns in the barn without benefit of either sanctuary or clergy. In 1902, the Diocese of Long Island purchased a parcel of land at the northwest corner of Grand and 91st Streets (now known as 168th Street and 90th Avenue) to establish a church. On this site was a house (pictured at right) that would serve as a rectory; the barn which was converted into a Parish House, where services would be conducted.

St. Stephen’s was one of seven missions founded for African Americans by the Diocese between 1890 and 1907. On February 15, 1903, the Parish House was consecrated and the congregation organized as a Colored Mission of the Episcopal Diocese of Long Island by The Right Reverend Frederick Burgess. The date was chosen by church members for its proximity to the birth date of President Abraham Lincoln on the 12th of February. The object of the mission was twofold, to address the spiritual needs of African-Americans in the region, and keep the Negroes from worshipping at Grace Church.

The Diocese of Long Island recruited and deployed African-American priests to meet the spiritual needs of Negro congregations until the 1970’s and appointed an Archdeacon for Colored work in the 1930’s.  The number of Colored Episcopalians and the influence of their clergy moved the Diocese to appoint the Reverend Nathaniel Peterson Boyd as Archdeacon for Colored work.  Father Boyd had come from the Diocese of Central New York in 1903 and held a Doctor of Divinity degree.  Archdeacon Boyd served the Diocese in this capacity until his death.  The first African American priest in the Diocese of Long Island may have been The Reverend Prince T. Rogers who served in 1875. 

Father McKinney retired in 1944 after 27 years. During the eight month vacancy, services were conducted by The Venerable Harry J. Stretch, Archdeacon of Queens and Nassau.  In 1945, the Reverend Montraville E. Spatches (who transferred from Western Michigan) was appointed Priest-in-Charge of St. Stephens and St. James with The Reverend Leslie C. Ford as his assistant until Father Spatches was assigned to serve only St. James.  This means the number of members and the amount of pledges at St. Stephen’s were able to support a full-time Priest.  Father Ford became the fifth Priest-in-Charge in 1947.  The leadership of Father Ford and the work of devoted members moved the Diocese to allow St. Stephen’s to become a parish in 1960.  Father Ford was elected the first Rector and the Bishop’s Committee became a Vestry.  Father Ford served ably and faithfully until his retirement in 1964.

The Reverend John Graham Murdock was instituted as the second Rector in February 1965 and served until September of 1968.  Tragically, the Church caught fire in October of 1968, severely damaging the chancel and several stained-glass windows. It was closed for  just seven months while repairs were made; services were held in the now enlarged Parish Hall.  During this time, The Venerable Canon William G. Penny, Archdeacon of Queens and Nassau, and the Reverend Marlin L. Bowman conducted the services.  As a clear sign of the strength of the Vestry leadership and generosity of member donations, a small house next to the Church was purchased while the sanctuary was rebuilt.  This building is on the right side of the photograph.  It was used for church office space and meetings.

The Reverend Arthur James Kelly was instituted as the third Rector in September 1969.  He served until September 1978.  He was succeeded by the Reverend D. Stewart Alexy in September 1979.  Father Alexy was a dynamic and innovative leader and initiated many interior physical plant improvements during his tenure and encouraged the congregation’s involvement in and advocacy for residents in the region.  In December of 1989 he organized protests that helped preserve the bus lines and depot in the neighborhood.  Father Alexy served until his death in April 1990.  It took nearly two years to secure the next Rector.  The Right Reverend Orris G. Walker, wanting to expose Saint Stephen’s to the talents of diverse clergy, assigned St. Stephen’s its first female priest, the Reverend Lynn Coggi.

On August 1, 1992, the Reverend Mervyn L. Belmontes became the fifth Rector.  He was installed on November 1, 1992. Under Father Belmontes’ leadership several new programs were introduced that enhanced the spiritual, economic and social activities of the church. These included multiple Bible study groups, a Men’s Guild, a Nurses’ Guild, Chapters of the Union of Black Episcopalians and Daughters of the King, a Share Food Program and an annual International Day.  In 1995 he was appointed Dean of the Jamaica Deanery which includes nine churches. He initiated the annual Deanery Picnic to foster greater fellowship among the congregations.  The fellowship of the Jamaica Deanery clergy, vestries and congregations is, to this day, exemplary in the Diocese.  For three years, Father Belmontes was assisted by Deacon Richard Montrose.  Deacon Montrose expanded the Church’s ministry to include Boy and Girl Scout Troops, programs for battered women and for the children of incarcerated parents (Angel Tree Ministry).  Father Belmontes left the church on July 31, 2000. 

In December 2002, Bishop Walker appointed The Rev. Canon Dr. Lynn A. Collins as Priest-in-Charge.  St. Stephen’s was Mother Collins’ return to parish ministry after a decade of serving as an executive for the national Episcopal Church as Officer for Black Ministry.  Unfortunately, her tenure was short.  On November 2, 2003 she left to become the rector of St. John’s Church in Los Angeles, CA.  Before and after Mother Collins’ tenure, the Church was served by Supply Priests.  Among them were the Reverend Dennison Richards (who was born in Grenada) and The Reverend Charles Holdbrooke (born in Ghana, West Africa).  Father Holdbrooke served from November of 2003 for 19 months. 

On December 1, 2006, St. Stephen’s Vestry called the sixth Rector, the Reverend Donovan I. Leys (a Jamaican-born priest). Father Leys had served in the Diocese since March 1992. He had been an Assistant Priest at Saint Augustine's, Brooklyn and a Rector of The Epiphany and Saint Simon, Brooklyn. During his tenure, Father Leys revitalized the ministries established during Father Belmontes’ tenure, worked with the Property Committee to make repairs, converted the Rectory into a Church Office, expanded the Music Ministry to include a steel pan ensemble and youth choir, created opportunities for meet with ministers and congregations of other faith traditions, and improved the congregation’s relationship with the Jamaica Deanery through his membership and leadership as Dean. Under his leadership, families with children joined the parish, the faith of members was deepened and the heritage of members’ homelands were acknowledged and celebrated. The love of Christ and the desire for Christian fellowship was so great members arrived each Sunday morning and remained at Church until late afternoon. Father Leys left St. Stephen’s in 2020 when he was called as rector of Saint Gabriel’s Church in Brooklyn.