Parish History
 
 

Episcopal services were first held at
Sherman, Texas during 1866 by a group of people who
founded our parish several years later. St. Stephen's
is the second oldest parish in the present-day
Episcopal Diocese of Dallas,
having become an organized mission in what was
then the Diocese of Texas in 1872. The Parish
was consecrated by Alexander C. Garrett in his
capacity as the first
Bishop of the Dallas diocese.
Our first church and rectory were built in 1874,
the year that we become recognized as a parish.
Our present church was built in 1910 and a large addition
was constructed in 1951 to create a
parish hall and to provide classrooms.  
Extensive improvements and additions in 1976
brought to us the present Parish Hall, the Garrard Educational
Building, the Garth, and the All Saints Chapel.
Some of our Rectors
St. Stephen's has had many dedicated Rectors and Parishioners during the last 125 years. Among them,
the Reverend William James Miller served the parish from 1901 until 1924. His tenure saw construction of the
 
                                                                
 
present main sanctuary, institution of a stable Sunday School, and extensive lay participation in the parish.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  
 
The Rev'd William Tate Young 
 
 
The Rev'd William Tate Young became rector of St Stephen 's in 1946.  A quintessential southern gentleman.  Fr Young gently but firmly undertook a variety of important projects;  building the the Sunday School, establishing a well-organized Altar Guild, and stressing the importance of participation in the services of the church from a strong acolyte program to an outstanding choir.  Under his leadership, a parish hall was built in 1951.
 
Fr Young had previously served a chaplaincy at Sheppard Air Force Base in Wichita Falls, Texas, an experience which stood him in good stead since, during his years at St Stephen's, many families from Perrin Air Force Base were active in the parish.  Amond them was Frank Borman, who was later one of the first astronauts, and Mrs. Borman was confirmed at St Stephen's.
 
Fr Young retired as rector of St Stephen's in 1968 and lived his remaining years at Lake Texoma.
 
 
 
 
Fr James W Garrard began his rectorship at St Stephen's on July 2, 1968, immediately plunging into the work of the parish and becoming widely involved in community activites.  He placed emphasis on parish activites--youth programs, men's groups, etc--being devotional first and fellowship evolving from that rather than simply being social get-togethers.  As time went by, the parish grew in numbers and in faithful Sunday attendance, even overcoming the closing of Perrin Air Force Base in 1971, when St Stephen's lost 82 active members, military people who were transferred elsewhere.  Two years later, All Saints' Chapel was built, as well as the much-needed two-story education building, and the Garth was developed.  Then, in the 1990s, as the parish continued to grow, further renovations were made and property across the street purchased.
Fr Garrard placed great emphasis on the parish fulfilling its calling to worship God and to serve His people where they were, and increasingly people became involved in St Stephen's to do exactly that.  In his last "official" words as rector of St Stephen's, Fr Garrard wrote, "Each person who has worshipped here has altered this parish; each prayer that has risen within these walls has hallowed its atmosphere."
Having suffered a stroke, Fr Garrard retired as rector of St Stephen's and became rector emeritus in 1995.