In June, 1959, Methodist Bishop William C. Martin appointed William K. McElvaney to be the pastor of a new congregation to be developed in the Casa View Area of Mesquite. After a survey of 1700 homes, the first service of worship was held on July 12, 1959 at Lamar Elementary School (now Vanston Middle School). On September 20, the church was officially organized as St. Stephen Methodist Church with 175 members. The Lamar School remained our home until we moved into the current church building on December 2, 1962.

Our pastors have been:

• William K. McElvaney, 1959-1968
• James McKeown, 1968-1970
• Winston C. Fletcher, 1970-1971
• Dwight H. Judy, 1971-1980
• L. Marvin Guier, III, 1980-1983
• Lee D. Cary, 1983-1988
• Cathy A. Bingman, 1988-1995
• David M. Carr, 1995-2004
• Gayle Landis, 2004-to-date

The Architecture

The St. Stephen Building Committee viewed its task as one of articulating theology through architectural design. Features include:

• An overall image which suggests a timeless blend of the ancient and contemporary, indicating the mystery, permanence, and creativity that are characteristics of God.
• The pulpit, baptismal font, the Lord's table - the symbols of Christ's ministry of calling, healing, and feeding - are equal in location under the cross.
• Twelve symbols carved around the 14-foot communion table, each reminding us of one of the disciples.
• The central candle holder, a symbol of resurrection. A human figure with upraised arms can be seen triumphing over a cross.
• The absence of chancel railing between the clergy and the laity, suggesting the quality of all being ministers of Jesus Christ.
• Eight sacred-design windows in the chapel, made by Frank Turner, a member of St. Stephen, using chunks of colored glass in clear casing plastic.
• Various pulpit scarves and banners made by St. Stephen members for seasons of the liturgical year.

The building was designed by Pratt, Box and Henderson of Dallas. The flowing curves of the building were achieved through archilithics, a cement and fiber glass material which is sprayed one-fourth inch thick on both sides of concrete blocks laid without mortar. The sprayed skin forms a continuous surface which bonds the block and is waterproof.

The current facility, originally viewed as the first unit of an ambitious larger master plan, covers just over 12,00 square feet. Groundbreaking ceremonies were held on Reformation Day, Sunday, October 29, 1961. The first service in the new building was on December 2, 1962.

The Organ

Photo Courtesy of Robert L Sipe, Inc.

The organ at St. Stephen was built by the Sipe-Yarbrough Organ Company, now the Robert L. Sipe, Inc., Organ Builders of Dallas, Texas. It was given to the church by Mrs. Eugene McElvaney in memory of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. W.H. King. It was dedicated and used for the first time at the morning worship service on September 15, 1963.

The organ was one of the first in the North Texas area to boast an entirely mechanical key and stop action. It has 13 stops (19 ranks) on two manuals and pedal, a total of 815 pipes. The entire organ is self-contained in a contemporary mahogony case 13 feet in height.

All the metal pipes were imported from Holland. The front pipes are made of pure tin, the finest pipe metal. The naturals on the keyboard are covered with ebony, and the sharps with ivory.

Tonally, the organ may be described as Neo-Baroque. It possesses a sensitive mechanical (tracker) action, which allows the organist the greatest amount of control over articulation and phrasing. Classic voicing and the use of low wind pressures give the organ a clear and articulate sound, which creates a beautiful effect in the live acoustics of the sanctuary.

While the organ incorporates some of the principles of 17th and 18th Century organ building, no attempt to copy an historic example was made. In this sense, it carries out successfully the theme of St. Stephen's architecture, a blend of ancient and contemporary thought and appearance.

(This information was taken from the St. Stephen New Member's Guide - November, 1993)

The space for this web site has been provided courtesy of the General Board of Global Ministries, The United Methodist Church. The content of these home pages is the responsibility of St. Stephen United Methodist Church. Please send feedback to RHOLLOW@aol.com.
Last updated November 6, 2004