The early years of St. Stephen’s began in 1872, when services were held from place to place with the help of an Episcopal church in a neighboring town.  In 1898, the purchase in Westboro of a house and a stable was the beginning of its first real home, with the stable having been converted into a church.

The Diocese of Western Massachusetts was formed at the turn of the century, and in 1906 St. Stephen’s became a mission, led by a Vicar and an Executive Committee.  Modest changes to the church were made throughout the years until 1954.  With the rapidly growing population after World War II, it became apparent that a larger church was needed.

It was then that land was bought on John Street, our church’s current location. An architect was hired whose philosophy was, “….to create churches whose walls and roofs and spires express the aspirations of the people who congregate there.”  The first services were held in 1957.  Significant work continued in the early years, working on Fay Hall, the classrooms in the lower level and within the interior of the church itself.

 Our church building, of a contemporary design, sits on a large parcel of land on a short side street off Main Street.  It is located in a quiet residential neighborhood, made up of old homes and old, tall trees.  The church’s welcoming entrance is bordered by a lawn, flowering shrubs and perennials.  The very tall, vertical stained-glass window behind the free-standing altar lets in the warm sun on Sunday mornings.

With the church’s growth and becoming financially stable, in 1977 the Diocese approved of its application to become a parish with a Rector and a Vestry.  There was a celebration in 1982 when the mortgage was burned!  There was an even larger celebration during the Centennial Year in 1998.

Since St. Stephen’s became a Mission of the Diocese of Western Massachusetts in 1907, we have had eight Vicars, plus two assistants and one deacon.  From I977, when we became a Parish, to 2020, there have been five rectors.  The first rector was both a vicar and a rector during the early transition from Mission to Parish, between years of 1972 to 1978.  We have also had two assistants and two deacons.  Currently, the Reverend Mary Rosendale serves as our Priest-In-Charge.

Tragedy struck our Parish in 1991, when the beloved Fr. John Lawton and his wife, Nancy, were killed in a car accident, leaving behind four children—- two adults and two in high school.  With the guidance and support of the Diocese and our community, we were then able to recover and call a new rector in 1992.  The town of Westborough named the street Lawton’s Way after them, and under the leadership of Fr. Dennis Jarry, St. Stephen’s healed, and grew in hope, faith, spirit and fellowship!