WELCOME TO ALL
What is the Episcopal Church?
The Episcopal Church is Welcoming, Affirming and Inclusive. We are Christians grounded in Scripture, Reason and Tradition. We believe that we are on a spiritual journey to discover that God would have us know and experience along the way.
We provide an environment in which individuals can work out their relationship with God and with one another.
St. Stephen’s follows our Baptismal Covenant to “love our neighbors as ourselves” and “to strive for justice and peace…while respecting the dignity of every person”. We welcome all people whatever their race, color, marital status, sexual orientation, financial condition, and any and all conditions of this life.
As Episcopalians, we realize that it is not always possible to be fully confident of a certain belief, and that we do at times doubt God, doubt our faith and doubt our ability to live out that faith. We trust that God is understanding of our human frailties, and will lead us out of confusion into a new understanding and enlightenment.
History.
St Stephen’s has been a presence in Hampshire County since 1753. The exact location of the first church building in unknown as it was destroyed by fire before the Civil War. Our current church building was completed in August 1885. Services had been held at various other Romney churchs and the chapel of the West Virginia School for the Deaf and Blind.
The first worship service in the new building was conducted by the Rev George Gibbons and the church was consecrated by Bishop George W Peterkin, the first bishop of the Diocese of West Virginia on November 13, 1888.
There has been little modification to the original structure and of note is the possibly Tiffany stained glass window over the altar given in memory of Rev Gibbons whose portrait hangs on the back wall of the church.