St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church was founded in 1823 in Oxford, North Carolina. The first sanctuary was built in 1832, and the current sanctuary was completed in 1902. In the Journal of the Convention of 1821 it is stated that the diocesan missionary, “Mr. Thomas Wright, held services twice in Oxford during the summer of 1820.” In the Journal of 1822 we find that the Rev. William Mercer Green, pastor of St. John’s, Williamsborough reported that “he officiated once a month at Oxford during the past year.” And in 1823 “…the certificate of organization of a parish in Oxford was presented to the convention by the Rev. Mr. Green.” Thus began the storied history of St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church in the Diocese of North Carolina, under the leadership of its first bishop, the Right Reverend John Stark Ravenscroft. Today St. Stephen’s is an active member of the diocese under the leadership of the Bishop of North Carolina, the Right Reverend Michael B. Curry.