Saint Stephen United Methodist Church

Did you ever hear of a church starting in a fire station garage? Saint Stephen United Methodist Church did just that. In May 1950, a small group of faithful, led by Reverend Bernard Hatch, gathered in a single-floor garage in Oak Forest Park. This makeshift sanctuary, designed for a small fire engine, became the birthplace of Saint Stephen United Methodist Church. A borrowed piano, a handcrafted lectern, and a wooden cross created a surprisingly worshipful atmosphere. The church’s first pianist, Evelyn Tolbert, filled the garage with music. Four wooden park benches served as pews. Sunday school, with its initial class of just four children, sometimes met under the trees. Saint Stephen United Methodist Church was named after the first Christian martyr, “a man full of faith.” The congregation, like its namesake, was also full of faith. They soon outgrew the fire station garage. They moved to a rented house on Ebony Lane. The converted den became the sanctuary. Living rooms became Sunday school classrooms. Members pitched in every Saturday to clean and prepare for Sunday services. The congregation continued to grow. This necessitated another move, this time to the spacious, if somewhat empty, Garden Oaks Theater. Members transported nursery furniture and playpens in their car trunks every Sunday. They set up before service and packed it all away again before the theater opened for movies that afternoon. Saint Stephen United Methodist Church was a church on the move, literally. A generous donation of land from developer Frank Sharp allowed them to finally build their own home on Ella Boulevard in 1952. The first building served as both sanctuary and fellowship hall. Rapid growth led to an education building in 1957. Just five years after its humble beginnings, Saint Stephen United Methodist Church boasted 600 members and $150,000 in assets. The current sanctuary was built in 1962 to accommodate the still-growing congregation. Tragedy struck on Christmas Eve 1984 when the education building was destroyed by fire. Undeterred, the congregation rallied. Sunday school classes met behind sheets hung in the fellowship hall. The destroyed building was meticulously rebuilt and dedicated. Saint Stephen United Methodist Church continued to evolve. They welcomed their first female clergy and added a contemporary service. They celebrated their 50th anniversary in 2000. They embraced further renovations and improvements. Saint Stephen United Methodist Church has journeyed from a fire station garage to a vibrant, thriving community of faith. It stands as a testament to the power of faith, dedication, and a willingness to adapt and grow.