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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

Worship with us online

Sunday 24th August 2025
The Feast of Bartholomew the Apostle
10.30am Sung Eucharist

Unfortunately we won’t be able to livestream our Sunday evening service during the summer break, but you’re welcome to join us in church.

The Collect
From Common Worship

Almighty and everlasting God,
who gave to your apostle Bartholomew grace
   truly to believe and to preach your word:
grant that your Church
may love that word which he believed
and may faithfully preach and receive the same;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
Amen.

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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?

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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!

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?

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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.

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Latest news from St Stephen’s

Flooding

On Monday 21st July there was an afternoon of torrential rain. That rain overwhelmed the drains at the bottom of Hales Drive and then poured down the church path, and once our own drains were filled, into church.

READ MORE… Flooding

Opera Gala

One of our choir’s tenors, Joseph, has been successful in applying for a masters in vocal performance at music college in Switzerland in September 2025, and is currently fundraising in…

READ MORE… Opera Gala

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

FIND US:

St Stephen’s Church
Hales Drive
Canterbury
Kent
CT2 7AB