It was on the 23rd of January, 1851, that the first Church of St Stephen, Eight Mile Rock was opened. It was the first Anglican Church on the Island to be built. At first , the Church was pastored by the Parish Priest of St Peter, Abaco. Later the Parish of Our Lady and St. Stephen in Bimini was added to the Cure.

The first Priest to care for the Parish was the Rev'd. William Hildyard, who was succeeded by Rev'd H. Philpot. About twenty years after the opening of St. Stephen, the Church of Smith's Point (Barnard Point) was opened, and twenty years after that, the Church at West End was Consecrated. The stones that made up the walls of the original St. Mary Magdalene were fashioned in Eight Mile Rock and transported by boat to West End.

In the latter part of 1899, a devastating hurricane visited Grand Bahama and devastated the Church of St. Stephen, leaving only one or two walls and the foundation. It took the faithful two years to rebuild the church; and on December 25, 1901, the new Church was Consecrated. The Parish at this time continued to share a Priest with Abaco and Bimini. Fathers Thompson and Lang served the Parish in this capacity. It was not until the arrival of Canon Frank Wyatt in the Parish in 1927, did the Parish receive a resident Priest, even though, he too, had to share his time with the Parish of St Peter, in Abaco. Prior to Canon Wyatt's arrival in the Parish, it had been served by Fathers Hogg and Ferrier.

Canon Wyatt was succeeded by Father (later Archdeacon and Bishop) Gerald Brooks. Following Father Brooks as Parish Priest was Father Oswald Dickenson who was the first Priest not required to share his time with another parish. He confined his attention to Grand Bahama Churches, which were now in West End, Eight Mile Rock, Smith's Point, High Rock and Sweetings Cay. He was followed by Father K. Purefoy Fritzgerald during whose ministry the Parish Hall was built, and services were held in Pine Ridge. Succeeding him were Fathers Jay Claude and Jay Theodors Black. Canon Fedrick Guild served with Father Black for about six (6) months.

With the signing of the Hawksbill Creek Agreement, and the coming into being of Freeport, another Grand Bahama Parish was born. Father Claude Underhill assisted by Fathers Eric Sam and Neil Roach, served the Parish from 1959 to 1962, until he moved to Freeport to start the Church of Christ the King.

He was succeeded by Father (Archdeacon, Bishop) Michael Eldon. During his ministry, the Church was completely renovated and extended. This was completed during the early part of 1966. In addition, a kitchen was added to the Parish hall in 1967, and in the next year, the Rectory immediately to the east of the Church was constructed. In that year, Father (Bishop now Archbishop of the Province of the West Indies) Drexel W. Gomez became Priest -in -Charge. The Basketball Court just south of the Parish Hall was constructed by him. He left the Parish in June of 1970 and was succeeded by Father John Clarke, who consolidated work in the Parish Hall after the period of expansion in the sixties. He made many improvements to the Church and Rectory. He went on to become Rector of St. Margret's Parish in Nassau in January 1975. Father Salvanus Regisford was appointed in his stead.

Father Regisford spent approximately four years in the Parish before moving to the United States of America. He continued the Prayer Guild started by Father Michael Eldon, and eventually that Guild was called - The Bible Class. The Bible Class remained steadfast up to this day, providing stability for the women of the parish, and assisted in helping the parish to remain focused. In 1978 Father Regisford was replaced by Father Leopold Cox, who to date was the longest serving Parish Priest, serving a total of sixteen years. He was instrumental in structural changes for the Parish. The physical plant remained intact. He made sure that the sporting facilities, initiated by the now Archbishop of the Province of the West Indies and Bishop of the Diocese of The Bahamas and Turks and Caicos Islands, were maintained and utilized. Father Cox renovated the church, putting in the stained glass windows and doors and tiling the floors. The present appearance of this edifice owes much to Father Cox. The Parish Hall was renovated and dedicated on July 12th, 1981. Father Cox returned to Nassau in 1994, where he was assigned to St James Parish, and later became the Chaplain to St. John's College, Chaplain to Her Majesty's Prison and Chaplain to the Archbishop.

Following Father Cox's tenure at St. Stephen, Father George Kingsley Knowles left the Parish to assume the duties of Rector of the Church. The Vestry recommended that Spiritual Growth should be the emphasis. The Rector introduced a Renewal Programme called "Faith Alive" that revived the people. House bible study is still being conducted. The spiritual life of the Church is growing into a healthy tree. Under his leadership financial solvency and stability were maintained. A small office space for administrative purposes was made to deal with the ongoing work of the Parish. Membership has strengthened, and a deeper sense of commitment is seen within the Church.

Hopes for the Parish! It is hoped that more can be done to the Parish physical plant to reflect the Outreach Ministry of the Parish and develop the minds and hearts of the people in the community. A new Rectory, it is hoped would be started in 2001, and an extension ministry in the Deadman's Reef Area. An Office Block and improved Parish Hall for recreation and socialization it is hoped would take place.

On June 30, 2001 Father Knowles left the Parish to assume the duties of Rector of St. George's Anglican Church in New Providence, and on July 1, 2001, Father Rudolph V. Cooper was appointed Priest-in Charge of St Stephen, and was inducted Rector on January 25, 2004.

In 2003, renovation and extension were done to the Rectory. The bedrooms were enlarged and another bedroom, bath and family room were added. Since the coming of Fr. Rudolph Cooper to the parish, we have held two (2) Adult and one (1)Youth Discovery. We have survived three (3) major hurricanes, Frances and Jane in September of 2004, and hurricane Wilma on October 24th , 2005, experiencing only minor roof damages to the Church and Rectory. The Parish Hall which was built in 1951 withstood all three hurricanes.

During the last one hundred and fifty five (155) years, there have been many blessings received; much have been accomplished. We pray that the years ahead will be even more fruitful ones.