St Stephen by Saltash

Regular Services

Sundays: 
9.30am Sung Communion (not 5th Sundays)
6.30pm Evensong – 3rd Sundays
From September 2024:
10am Morning Worship – 1st & 3rd Sundays
An informal service with songs and hymns
10am Sung Communion – 2nd & 4th Sundays
6.30pm Evensong – 3rd Sundays

On fifth Sundays there is just one service in the Area Ministry. It is a Sung Communion Service at 10am and rotates around four of the churches. Please check the calendar to see where it next takes place and for any service changes.

Wednesdays:
10am Said Communion – 1st & 3rd Wednesdays

Please check the calendar for any service changes.

Baptisms, Weddings, Funerals

• To make general enquiries please ring the Team office on 01752 844456 or use the contact form.
• To enquire about a wedding, please ring the Team office on 01752 844456 or fill in the Wedding enquiry form.
• To enquire about baptism, please ring the Team office on 01752 844456 or fill in the Baptism enquiry form.
• To enquire about a funeral, please ring ring the Team office on 01752 844456 or use the contact form.

More information on:
Baptisms - Weddings - Funerals

Facilities

• The church seats around 300 people.
• There is an area for children to draw or play, stocked with books and toys.
• There is one large disabled toilet with baby changing facilities in the Bell Tower.
• Disabled access is best gained by coming in the West Gate (Cecil Arms end of church) where there is a wide path and double doors into church. There is a very low step in the door entrance which is not a problem for wheel chairs. There is a portable ramp for wheel chairs to gain access to refreshment/social area
• There is on-street parking nearby and also room for three cars to park on church land at the West entrance.

Events

We have an active social committee and all are welcome to any of our events. Please look at the event list, calendar or our facebook page for up to date news.

Other Activities

• There is coffee and cake every 2nd Wednesday of the month at 10am at the back of the church. Also coffee and biscuits are available after all services.
• Messy Church is for adults and children to enjoy together and takes place on the third Saturday of the month form 3-5pm (except August and December).
• Mother’s Union is on the 2nd Tuesday of each month (except August) at 2pm.There is c

History

Below is a short history, more information can be found in the booklet ‘St Stephen-by-Saltash, Cornwall: A Short History of the Church’ available from the back of the church for £1 a copy.

The church today still stands in the village of St Stephens, but with the population explosion that followed the opening to the Tamar road bridge in 1961 has caused the housing to catch up with it. It's long history has seen many changes in circumstances both in its worship and its service to the community.

Today it ministers to the rapidly expanding area's of the town where new housing in Latchbrook and Pillmere have added to the developments of the 1960s and 1970s, together turning this once rural parish into an increasingly suburban one. As the town grows so does the call on St Stephens for services of Baptism, Holy Matrimony and funerals, which we see as opportunities to engage with the community in which we are set.

The was a church in this parish as early as the 13th century and it stood on the same site as the present church. It is believed to have been consecrated in 1259. The earliest reference to the benefice is in 1278, and in 1288 the church was most highly rated in the deanery.

Many restorations have taken place over the years. For example, a major renewal of the roof timbers in 1997, when the electrical system was also fully renewed together with a sound system and a hearing loop. The rear of the church has been cleared of the pews to provides a social area and a disabled friendly toilet has been installed. Since then many maintenance projects have taken place including the clearance of the church yard by work parties made up from the parishioners.

The advowson belonged to the Earl of Cornwall who held the manor and the castle of Trematon. This lapsed in the 1300 to the Crown, and successive Prince of Wales, as Earls of Cornwall, held the advowson. In a deed, dated 6th May 1351, the Prince of Wales granted the advowson to his father, King Edward III, who handed it over to the Canons of Windsor, for the maintenance of the Chapel of St George, where the Knights of the Garter – founded by King Edward III – meet. Thus began our connection with Windsor which lasts to the present day, the Patrons being the Dean and the Canons of Windsor.

The War Graves

Peter Clements has compiled three articles about the war graves in St Stephen’s graveyard and the Great War Memorials outside St Stephen’s and outside St Nicolas and St Faith.

The Borough of Saltash Great War Memorial 1914-1918
The story behind the names inscribed on the Borough of Saltash Great War Memorial.

St Stephens-by-Saltash. The Great War Memorial 1914-1919
The story behind the names inscribed on the St Stephens-by-Saltash Great War Memorial.

St Stephen’s Commonwealth War Graves
About the Commonwealth War Grave Commission and the men buried here

Where we are