St. Stephen’s in 1959
Rectors/Priests-in-Charge of St. Stephen’s
The Reverend Frederick P. Davis (1925-2006) – First Priest-in-Charge July 1, 1956-July 1, 1960
The Reverend Elliott L. Sorge (1929-2011) – Second Priest-in-Charge September 1, 1960 – December 31, 1964
The Reverend Karl F. Reich (1922-2009) – Third Priest-in-Charge June 1, 1965-August 3, 1969
The Reverend Gary R. Gilbertson – Fourth Priest-in-Charge November 1, 1969 – January 21. 1971; First Rector January 22, 1971 – July 30, 1972
The Reverend Donald Sanderson Walch (1932-1986) – Second Rector September 1, 1972-August 1975
The Reverend James W. Hauan (1930-2002) – Third Rector January 1, 1976 – January 10, 1981
The Reverend Robert F. Andrews (1931-2019) – Fourth Rector December 1, 1981 – November 1, 1984
The Reverend Sandra Holmberg – Fifth Rector September 16, 1985 – September 1, 2000
Pastor Robert Kaul – Fifth Priest-in-Charge June 1, 2002 – December 7, 2003
The Reverend Elizabeth Powers – Sixth Priest-in-Charge December 19, 2004 – August 15, 2008
The Reverend Jamie A. Parsley – Seventh Priest-in-Charge October 1, 2008 – December 7, 2019; Sixth Rector December 8, 2019 –
St. Stephen’s History
St. Stephen’s has been unique in the Episcopal Diocese of North Dakota namely for being a strong advocate for progressive causes in the Church and society since its earliest days. St. Stephen’s was the first congregation in the Diocese to utilize female acolytes, female Lay Readers and Senior Wardens, and a female Priest as Rector.
Later St. Stephen’s was on the forefront of the fight to make sure LGBTQ people were fully included and accepted in the Church.
In both situations, St. Stephen’s received much negative push-back from the Diocese, the community and the Church as a whole. However, despite these criticisms, St. Stephen’s held firm.
For many decades, St. Stephen’s was considered a “Low Church” congregation liturgically speaking (though very much “Broad Church” in its general stance), so much so that the running joke about St. Stephen’s was: “St. Stephen’s is so low church that it should be called MISTER Stephen’s.”
That changed when St. Stephen’s called Fr. Jamie Parsley in 2008. Fr. Jamie had a deep love for liturgy and he brought this with him to St. Stephen’s. While at St. Stephen’s Fr. Jamie introduced and experimented with many liturgical styles that included two celebrations of Holy Eucharist during the week (the main one on Sunday morning and an additional Mass on Wednesday evenings), as well introducing the Enrich Our Worship liturgies, which featured inclusive language (i.e. non-gender-specific language regarding God), revised the Book of Common Prayer Eucharistic prayers to include more inclusive language, utilized an occasional Celtic Mass, a Julian of Norwich liturgy and adapted liturgies form other Anglican traditions, such as the New Zealand Prayer Book. He also introduced regular services of Morning and Evening Prayer, and the regular use of bells and incense at the celebration of Holy Eucharist. Above all, he held to the view that the very Eucharist was the center of our entire parish life. This blending of open and inclusive ideals with innovative, experimental and somewhat traditional worship worked well at St. Stephen’s, and appealed to a wide variety of members and visitors.
Timeline of St. Stephen’s
March 27, 1956 – St. Stephen’s formed, during a driving snowstorm, when seven lay-persons from Gethsemane Cathedral, Fargo met with Bishop Richard Emery (1910-1964), Dean John Baker and Canon Thomas J. McElligot (1919-2012). The mission was named after St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, Casselton, ND, which closed in 1953. (Other names discussed were St. David’s and St. Timothy’s)
Groundbreaking, 1956
July 1, 1956 – Fr. Frederick P. Davis (1925-2006) becomes the first Priest-in-Charge of St. Stephen’s
September 9, 1956 – first gathering of the congregation with a celebration of Holy Communion at the El Zagel Clubhouse at Broadway and 14th Avenue North.
December 24, 1956 – the first service in the current building.
December 26, 1956 (The Feast of St. Stephen) Dedication of the building by Bishop Richard Emery, at Evening Prayer, to consecrate the building to holy use. The building was designed by Fargo architect Harold Bechtel (1902-1980).
January 1, 1957 – first Annual Meeting of the congregation. 51 communicants, 39 from Gethsemane Cathedral.
March 17, 1957 – 8:00 am Celebration of Holy Communion the first service to be held in newly completed building.
May 2, 1960 – construction of rectory begun.
September 1, 1960 – Fr. Elliott Sorge (1929-2011) becomes the second Priest-in-Charge of St. Stephen’s
February 21, 1964 – Bishop Richard Emery is killed a van-train collision in Grand Forks, ND along with Fr. Edwin Bigelow (1925-1964), his wife, Phyllis (1929-1964), their daughter, Pamela (1956-1964), and Sharell Simons (1944-1964), a UND student.
June 1, 1965 – Fr. Karl F. Reich (1922-2009) becomes the third Priest-in-Charge
November 1, 1969 – Fr. Gary R. Gilbertson becomes the fourth Priest-in-Charge
Summer and Fall 1970 – St. Stephen’s remodeled with Richard Hennings as architect and contractor; the sacristy is remodeled; the door to the sacristy moved closer to the altar so extra space can be made for the choir pews; a new altar, altar rail, credence table, pulpit and acolyte bench were purchased; the original altar, altar rail, pulpit and lectern were donated to St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, McLaughlin, South Dakota.
1970 – 80 “Green” Trial Prayer Books purchased
January 22, 1971 – St. Stephen’s achieves Parish status. Fr. Gary Gilbertson becomes the 1st Rector of St. Stephen’s
January 24, 1971 – The first woman Senior Warden in the Episcopal Diocese of North Dakota, Elthea Thacker (1916-2002) is elected at St. Stephen’s. She was also the first woman Lay Reader in the Diocese.
January 31, 1971 – Former Rector Elliott Sorge (1929-2011) consecrated Bishop of the Diocese of South-Central Brazil
April 4, 1971 (Easter) – Carved Celtic Cross above the altar installed, given by D. Stuart (1929-2010) and Clotine Frear in memory of Stuart’s mother, Hazel Winnifred Eaton Frear (1905-1965); the cross was designed and made by Dr. Gerald Still; blessed by Bishop George Masuda on May 27th
1972 – Susan Frear becomes the first female acolyte in the Diocese of North Dakota.
September 1, 1972 – Fr. Donald Sanderson Walch (1922-1986) becomes second Rector of St. Stephen’s
December 31, 1973 – St. Stephen’s vandalized. The reserved Sacrament is desecrated.
1974 – an aumbry for the Reserved Sacrament and a sanctuary light are installed, due mainly to the hard work of parishioner Clotine Frear, who researched tabernacles and aumbrys.
1974 – 80 “Zebra” Prayer Books begin use
January 1, 1976 – Fr. James Hauan (1930-2002) becomes third Rector of St. Stephen’s
1977 – 100 “Proposed” Books of Common Prayer purchased.
April 10, 1977 (Easter Day) – 12 round stained glass windows by artist Lyn Hovey dedicated.
1981 – the beginning of a very difficult and painful time in the life of St. Stephen’s that many called the “exodus out.” Beginning in 1981 and for a few years following, several members of the parish transferred to other congregations or simply stopped attending due to a belief the parish had no future and should close. North Fargo had not grown as people initially thought it would and plans for a larger church building built to the north and east were abandoned. Several faithful members remained at St. Stephen’s and stepped up to keep the parish going. Almost half the congregation left during this time.
December 1, 1981 – Fr. Robert Andrews becomes fourth Rector of St. Stephen’s
September, 1985 – The Reverend Sandra Holmberg called as fifth Rector, becoming the first woman priest to serve as priest in the Episcopal Diocese of North Dakota.
April 26, 1998 – groundbreaking for new addition
December 14, 1998 – new organ installed (replacing original organ from the 1950s)
January 10, 1999- Dedication of the new front addition; Alpha and Omega window from Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, Lisbon, ND, is added to western wall, where the original entrance to the church as located.
October 14, 2001 – Labyrinth dedicated
2002 – St. Stephen’s becomes the first parish in the Diocese of North Dakota to be named an Integrity Partner congregation, thus becoming one of the first parishes in the Episcopal Diocese of North Dakota to fully welcome Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgendered persons
June 1, 2002 – Pastor Robert Kaul, a pastor of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, is called as Pastor of St. Stephen’s (and fifth Priest-in-Charge). He also serves Herby Lutheran Church, near Prosper, ND.
December 19, 2004 – The Reverend Elizabeth Powers, a parishioner of St. Stephen’s who was raised up for ordination to the priesthood, becomes the sixth Priest-in-Charge of St. Stephen’s
June 19, 2005 – “Tree of Life” stained glass window in the Narthex is dedicated in memory of Fr. James Hauan (1930-2002).
November 19, 2005 – Louie Crew (1936-2019), founder of Integrity, speaks at St. Stephen’s.
October 1, 2008 – Fr. Jamie Parsley becomes the 7th Priest-in-Charge of St. Stephen’s
June 3, 2009 – Wednesday night Eucharist begun.
September 13, 2009 – Children’s Chapel dedicated
December 14, 2009 – This Grass, a book of poems by Fr. Jamie and paintings by Gin Templeton, published.
May 9, 2010 – Peace Pole planted and dedicated.
March 12, 2011 – New Altar Rail Dedicated in memory of Albert Parsley (1934-2011)
June 5, 2011 – Stations of the Cross installed and dedicated in memory of Shirley Carbno (1934-2011).
July, 2011 – the 1st class relics of several saints placed inside altar
October 2011 – Celebration of Full Communion between the Episcopal and Moravian Churches with Shepherd of the Prairie Moravian Church, Fargo.
Fall 2011 – Healing Eucharist begun at St. Stephen’s
July 2012 – Ikon of St. Stephen, the parish’s patron saint, donated and dedicated
Fall 2012 – Undercroft remodeled with new paint, new shades on windows and rearrangement of furniture
November 2012 – Painting of apse (wall behind the sanctuary)
November 2012 – New and expanded coated racks installed in narthex
December 2012 – Rose-colored vestments and paraments introduced
February 2013 – Processional torches added on each side of ambo
March 2013 – New doors into nave and Undercroft completed
October 2013 – New round tables in the Undercroft
January 2014 – New bookshelves installed in Office.
May 2014 – Undercroft bathroom remodeled
May 25, 2014 – Memorial Garden dedicated
June 8, 2014 – New baptismal bowl and refurnished font is consecrated; given in memory of Patricia Leigh Mackay (1954-1955)
June 2014 Statue of St. Francis donated by Vicki Hochstatter; New undercroft carpet installed ; Window on office/children’s chapel door
Fall 2014 – New Furnace installed
August 2015 – Memorial Garden landscaping completed
October 17, 2015 – First interment (Rick Holbrook’s ashes) in Memorial Garden
November 11, 2015 – St. Stephen’s buries the ashes of Adolf Scott, whose urn was found abandoned the previous summer in the memorial garden
December 13, 2015 – St. Stephen’s votes unanimously for Delegated Episcopal Pastoral Oversight (DEPO) to ensure full-inclusion of all people at St. Stephen’s; is now allowed to perform same-sex marriage rites (the first in the Episcopal Diocese of North Dakota) ; Bishop Carol Gallagher is appointed Bishop for St. Stephen’s
June 12, 2016 – first stained glass window (the Good Samaritan window) in the nave dedicated to the memory of Dr. Leo Wilking (1919-2006) and Virginia Wilking (1920-2002).
September 11, 2016 – second stained glass window (the Mary and Martha Window) is dedicated to the honor of the pioneers in women’s ministry at St. Stephen’s during 60th anniversary celebration and in memory of long-time parishioner Harriet Blow (1933-2015).
April 2, 2017 – third stained glass window (the St. Aelred/”Integrity” window) is dedicated in honor of St. Stephen’s long and proud LGBTQ ministry, and in memory of all those who died “trying to be their authentic selves.”
September 10, 2017 – Fourth stained glass window, St. Cecilia, installed, dedicated in honor of St. Stephen’s music ministry, and in the honor/memory of James Henry Kleinkauf (1934-2010) & Kathleen McCrory Kleinkauf (1937-1996), Marie Kerkeles Phillips (1925-1998) & Samuel Boyd Phillips, and the Reverend Kenneth Herbert Rice (1917-1990) & Flora Jean Rice (1922-2009), and commemorating James Mackay, long-time organist of St. Stephen’s.
October 22. 2017 – Fifth stained glass window, St. Stephen, installed, dedicated to the honor of St. Stephen the Martyr, the congregation’s patron saint, and in memory of Maude G. (1884-1983) and John J. Syler (1883-1971) and Jeannette Syler Peterson (1914-2006) and Roy P. Peterson (1915-2007).
November 2, 2017 – Black vestments and paraments used for the first time for Annual All Souls Day Requiem Mass
November 2017 – New undercroft windows installed
December 17, 2017 – Sixth stained glass window, Sts. Benedict and Scholastica, blessed and dedicated to honor the congregation’s ministry of “receiving all as Christ” and to the Benedictine-spirited ministry of the congregation; in memory of Regina Rausch (1890-1976), Dolores Frank (1917-1962), Lucretia A. Orchard (1929-1972) and Paul B. Orchard (1922-2012)
January 9, 2018 – new Terra Sancta Gospel Book stand given to the parish.
March 11, 2018 – seventh stained glass window, the Peaceable Kingdom, blessed and dedicated to honor the congregation’s long-time commitment to Peace and Social Justice and in memory of long-time parishioner, Elizabeth Ann Spur (1935-2016) and Dr. John Spur (1918-2008)
April 25, 2018 – new red doors installed on the front of the church.
June 10, 2018 – Eighth and final window, the Bread of Life window, blessed and dedicated honoring the ministry of Fr. Jamie Parsley and all the priests who served at St. Stephen’s and in memory of Fr. Jamie’s mother and St. Stephen’s parishioner, Joyce Parsley (1936-2018) and Fr. Jamie’s cousin, Jackie Parsley (1971-2013)
July 20, 2018 – new retaining wall in the Mary Garden
September 2018 – framed stations of the Cross illustrations are donated by Alice Hauan in memory of Fr. Jim Hauan.
Bishop Carol consecrates the new altar
October 21, 2018 – new altar consecrated by Bishop Carol Gallagher
March 3, 2019 – the 8 rondelles that originally hung in the windows of the nave are rededicated in their new location in the new windows of the Undercroft.
March 31, 2019 – new retable built by Kip Vossler is blessed.
May 19, 2019 – the 100+ year old bell, nicknamed “Hildegard,” arrives from Michigan, where it originally hung at the Sherborne School in Beaverdam, MI.
September 22, 2019 – The tower, which originally stood at the St. Paul’s Newman Center at NDSU from 1958-2019, and “Hildegard” the bell are blessed and dedicated.
Dedication of the tower and bell
December 8, 2019 – Fr. Jamie is installed as the 6th Rector of St. Stephen’s (after serving for 11 years as Priest-in-Charge). He was the first Rector at St. Stephen’s in almost 20 years.
March 2020 – during the Coronavirus pandemic, all public liturgies are suspended but both Sunday morning and Wednesday evening Masses continue without interruption, being livestreamed through Facebook; the liturgies are also uploaded to various social media including the St. Stephen’s YouTube page. All of this is accomplished due to a faithful “pod” of parishioners, the organist and Fr. Jamie.
May 31, 2020 – A wooden plaque of St. Stephen, made by Mark McAllister of Hurley’s Religious Goods in Fargo and given in honor of John Anderson’s upcoming ordination to the Diaconate, is blessed and dedicated.
John Anderson and Bishop Whitmore at his ordination
June 14, 2020 – John Anderson is ordained a Deacon by Bishop Keith Whitmore at All Saints Episcopal Church, Valley City. The ordination, which was originally scheduled for April 4 at St. Stephen’s, was postponed and held in Valley City due to the Coronavirus pandemic. John becomes the first deacon to serve at St. Stephen’s.
August 2020 – renovation begins on the labyrinth, which had become overgrown, with the borders sunk into the ground. The bounder stones are raised up and recycled crushed concrete is placed between the borders.
September 9, 2020 – rededication and blessing of the renovated Labyrinth.
May 11, 2021 – new organ arrives; the old organ is purchased by organist James MacKay as a personal organ.
May 19, 2021 – new organ dedicated and blessed by Bishop Tom Ely
September 12, 2021 – St. Stephen’s begins using an adapted form of Enriching our Worship for the Sunday morning Mass, utilizing inclusive language (gender-expansive/gender-neutral language in regard to God) in the liturgy.
September 11, 2022 – The Baptism windows, designed by Gin Templeton and installed above the entrance doors in the Narthex, are blessed and dedicated to the memory of Leon Gelinske (1941-2022)
October 8, 2022 – New walkway of pavers installed on front lawn directly in front of the main entrance.
February 2023 – Renovations begin on the sacristy, which includes moving the door next to the altar back to its original place (pre-1970), new cabinets, a sink and expanding the sacristy.
May 14, 2023 – “Green Team” formed to promote Creation Care and environmental awareness to the congregation, the Diocese and the larger Church.
December 3, 2023 – dedication of new bike rack sponsored by the Green Team to replace the previous one stolen in 2014.
