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HISTORY

St. Stephen's had its beginnings in 1973 as an outreach effort of Saint Mark's Episcopal Church in San Marcos, 18 miles away. The tiny band of Episcopalians met initially in the Lion's Club field office, then in a ranch bunkhouse across the highway from the present campus.​

At the entrance of St. Steve’s on FM 3237, there is a chapel modeled after Mission Espanda in San Antonio. Besides holding our regular 8:00 a.m. Sunday Service, the chapel is a popular wedding venue and is available for both member and general public use. To inquire, call the church office, (512) 847-9956. Our beautiful 52-acre site includes a church which seats more than 300, a PK2 through 6th grade school with a gym, a labyrinth, nature trail, and a cemetery. The labyrinth and nature trail are open to the public year-round dawn to dusk. The life of the church is found in its vibrant community of people, who are pouring their lives into the next generations.

In late 1980s, members of the congregation formed a provisional vestry and petitioned for separation from Saint Mark's. Until that time, the two churches had been served by the same rector (the Rt. Rev. James Folts, who went on to serve as bishop of the diocese) and the same vestry. Separate parish status was granted by Diocesan Council in February 1981.

  • The first rector, the Rt. Rev. Earl McArthur, served until 1987 when he was elected bishop suffragan of the diocese.

  • The Rev. Phil Parham served as the second rector until 1989 when the Rev. Mac Keeble became the third rector of the church, serving until 2003.

  • St. Stephen's then welcomed the Rev. Patrick Gahan as rector, who served until early 2012. 

  • Our fifth rector, the Rev. Sandra Casey-Martus, had her Institution ceremony on January 30, 2013 and served until July 31, 2019.

  • The parish has been well-served during interim periods by various retired clergy of the diocese, including our own Rev. Phil C. Mason.

  • And at three different times the parish clergy has also included a full-time assistant rector. 

On September 1, 2020, St. Stephen's welcomed its sixth and current rector: the Rev. Kevin LJ Schubert. 

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