St Stephen's Church, Canterbury – Hales Drive, Canterbury, Kent, UK. CT2 7AB

max-kukurudziak-qbc3Zmxw0G8-unsplash

Could you be the next Rector of St Stephen’s?

We are advertising for a part-time (0.5 + accommodation) priest who will lead St Stephen’s and share the love of God in the local community

Download our Parish Profile

Apply through CofE Pathways

Join us online

The Fifth Sunday of Easter
Sunday 18th May 2025

10.30am Sung Eucharist

6.00pm Choral Evensong

The Collect

Almighty God,
who through your only–begotten Son Jesus Christ
have overcome death and opened to us the gate of everlasting life:
grant that, as by your grace going before us
you put into our minds good desires,
so by your continual help
we may bring them to good effect;
through Jesus Christ our risen Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
Amen.

Lectern with flowers

Support St Stephen’s financially

It costs over £1,700 a week to keep St Stephen’s open for worship. This includes the costs of having our own Rector, and the costs of keeping the building in good condition, heating in the winter and lighting for services, and supports our musical work with young people. We receive no funding from the Government or the Church of England to maintain our ancient and beautiful building.

Could you contribute towards the costs of our ministry?

MAKE A CONTRIBUTION

IMG_2758

St Stephen’s Choir

St Stephen’s is proud to have a strong choral tradition, with a robed choir singing the Sung Eucharist and Choral Evensong services each Sunday. The choir also has a reputation for singing excellent choral services in cathedrals around the south of England. New singers are always welcome to join us!

FIND OUT MORE

Bell ropes

Ring our bells!

St Stephen’s has a fine ring of eight bells, and a team of excellent ringers, but more are needed to keep the bells ringing, calling people to worship as they have done for hundreds of years. Would you like to join our team and learn a new skill?

FIND OUT MORE

manwood tomb closeup

History and Architecture

St Stephen’s has a rich history spanning a thousand years, from almost being a Cathedral, having a medieval Anchoress, and being the burial place of Queen Elizabeth’s Chancellor.

FIND OUT MORE

Latest news from St Stephen’s

Agenda and Reports for the APCM 2025

Agenda and Reports for the APCM 2024 The Annual Parochial Church Meeting is being held in church on Sunday 28th April 2024 at 12 noon in the Church Hall, following…

Choral Evensong for Peace

As the second anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine passes, join us for a special service of Choral Evensong Music, Readings and Prayers for Peace in Ukraine and other war-torn places around the world.

Christmas Tree Festival 2024

Don’t miss out on our spectacular Christmas Tree Festival at St Stephen’s, opening at 2.30pm on Friday 6th December, and open from midday until 6.00pm on Saturday 7th and Sunday 8th December. Trees will be decorated by groups from within St Stephen’s Church alongside trees decorated by groups representing all parts of the wider community of our parish.

READ MORE… Christmas Tree Festival 2024

Congratulations to St Stephen’s Bellringers!

St Stephens bellringers have had a very successful year under the direction of Tower Captain, Jane Huxley, winning 3 cups in one year: The Canterbury District Call Change, the 6 Bell Striking Competition, and finally the Kent County 6 Bell championship today (Saturday). They do not remember when (or if ever) the Tower was in possession of all 3 cups at once!

Congratulations Rev. Sally Pickersgill!

Congratulations to Rev. Sally Waters, who was ordained Deacon in Canterbury Cathedral on Saturday morning. Sally is, of course, known to all of us at St Stephen’s as she has been our Lay Reader for several years, but now she begins her new ministry as our Curate.

Agenda and Reports for the APCM 2024

Agenda and Reports for the APCM 2024 The Annual Parochial Church Meeting is being held in church on Sunday 28th April 2024 at 12 noon in the Church Hall, following…

St Stephen’s Choir singing in St Edmundsbury Cathedral

Our choir will be singing the services in St Edmundsbury Cathedral. Bury St Edmunds on Saturday 13th and Sunday 14th April. Music will include some of our favourite Easter anthems, as well as a celebration of Stanford’s music to mark 100 years since his death.

Remembering Lady Loretta

At Choral Evensong on Sunday 10th March, we will be remembering Lady Loretta, an Anchoress who was enclosed at St Stephen’s from 1221 until she died in 1266.

Ash Wednesday

This year, Lent begins on Wednesday 22nd February. We will be marking Ash Wednesday with two services, our regular 10am Holy Communion, and a special Sung Eucharist at 7.30pm.