In 1873, Reverend Morris established St. Stephen Baptist Church on Wells Station Road in Memphis, TN. Over its 150-year history, the church has flourished under the guidance of twelve Pastors. (See below for a  list of leaders).

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St. Stephen Elementary School was established under the direction of Pastor J.C. Cryer, offering academic and spiritual support to students from grades 1 to 8. Subsequently, Pastor W. T. Vanhooks decided to cease operations of the school in 1951. During Pastor Vanhooks' leadership, he transformed the hymn "Old Ship of Zion" into a theatrical production that toured various cities in Tennessee.

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In 1960, the church relocated to 3045 Chelsea Ave in Memphis TN under the leadership of Pastor L. L. Love, and he remained the leader for seventeen years.

 

In April 1974, the eleventh pastor of St. Stephen Baptist Church, Reverend James A. Adams, was elected by the congregation.  At that time the church accommodated less than 200 individuals, had fewer than 250 members, and its sanctuary spanned 70 feet by 36 feet. In response to the ongoing increase in memberships, the church opted to undergo renovations and expansions to accommodate the sustained growth it has been experiencing.

 

However, by 1979, the church had outgrown the newly renovated facility, so the decision was made to build a new church.  In 1981, groundbreaking for the new sanctuary began and it was completed in May of 1982.  The structure was consecrated as our place of worship in honor of our Lord and Savior from May 30 to June 4, 1982.

 

The church continued to flourish spiritually, physically and financially. Members worked together to organize new auxiliaries and outreach ministries, such as Youth & Young Adults, Women’s Chorus, Men’s Chorus, Mama & Papa Bee’s Support Group, along with many others. A church "where everybody is somebody" also became the church that reached all age levels.

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In 1988 - 1989, the church acquired property directly behind the sanctuary with the vision of adding a gymnasium and a fellowship hall.  This addition also included a new kitchen, nursery, music room, bathrooms, and seven classrooms. The vestibule was also expanded, and a balcony was incorporated to accommodate more seating options.  St. Stephen Baptist Church became the largest church in its surrounding community with a membership of 1200.  The continued growth will soon have members seeking an alternative option.

 

As a result of ongoing expansion, the church acquired 6.9 acres of land located at 4245 Singleton Parkway in 2002, initiating the construction of a new worship facility.  The groundbreaking ceremony on this new facility took place on July 11, 2005.  The church opened its doors on March 14, 2007.

 

After Pastor Adams' transition on May 9, 2020, Pastor Charles Harvey, Jr took over as the leader of St. Stephen Baptist Church on September 26, 2021. Pastor Harvey’s vision is Kingdom Building. His passion is to guide his followers while utilizing the word of God as a foundational guide.