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Everyone is welcome to attend any service or activity at St. Stephen’s. When attending a Sunday morning service, please sign the Visitors’ Book at the entrance, For the “What and “How” of worship at St. Stephen’s, see “Episcopal Church 101 What to expect in worship“.
Our weekly Sunday worship is called Holy Eucharist, which is a service of scripture readings, sermon, prayers, and Holy Communion. There are two Sunday services, one at 8am that we call a “spoken” service that is simple and quiet. Our 10am service is called a “sung” service that includes a choir, organ, hymns, and often other musical participation. The congregation takes part in all our worship. Our worship is ordered, God-centered, contemplative, and prayerful; our community is caring, warm, studious and active. All baptized Christians are welcome to receive the bread and wine
After the service you are invited to be seated for the Postlude music or go quietly in peace after the blessing. Coffee and goodies are provided in the Parish Hall behind the church after the 10 am service.
If you have children with you, they can remain with you in the service, or participate in Sunday School classes held during the 10am Sunday service in the Education Building.
We want you to feel at home, and hope you find St. Stephen’s to be a place where you can meet new friends, experience an inspiring worship service, and find many different opportunities that will help you continue on your spiritual journey, whatever your background, even if you have never been to church before.
St. Stephen’s has been serving the San Luis Obispo community since 1867. There are many opportunities to minister within the church and within the community.
Canterbury Ministry is the Episcopal Church Chaplaincy on college campuses. And is based at St. Stephens. The Canterbury Ministry is inclusive of all people and committed to building a loving, supportive community. You can find out more from The Rev Jen Crompton (they/theirs) at SLOEpiscopal @ gmail.com or click here.
St. Stephen’s is very active in reaching out to help our community. Our most regular activity is People’s Kitchen .
People’s Kitchen 30 churches & private groups serve one meal each month at the Prado Day Center which offers services for the homeless. St. Stephen’s serves a delicious Sloppy Joe lunch on the 4th Wednesday of each month for 80 to 150 people. Volunteers coordinate this lunch and parishioners volunteer to cook and serve and sponsor ingredients.
St. Stephen’s has raised money, volunteered at fundraisers and contributed needed items to organizations across the city, including: Access Support Network, National Alliance for the Mentally Ill, ALPHA, CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates for Children) SLO Food Bank, Hospice SLO County, 40 Prado, Salvation Army-SLO, and many more.
After spending 15 years in Higher Education Administration, Jen finally pursued their call to ministry and recently received an MDiv degree from Church Divinity School of the Pacific. Jen is passionate about connecting with those finding themselves unwelcomed in religious communities, is passionate about justice issues, including Queer and Trans inclusion, food, and housing insecurity, and is looking forward to working with the students at Cal Poly and Cuesta. Jen has also been a poll worker since they were eligible in most elections. Fun Fact about Jen: They love music, musicals, and any accessible hiking trail they can find.
Cassandra has her Bachelor’s Degrees in Church Music and English Literature from Westmont College, Santa Barbara. She holds Master’s Degrees in Performance Flute from CSU, Northridge, and in Choral Conducting from SJSU. Ms. Tarantino has taught at Cuesta College, San Luis Obispo since 2006 where she conducts the Concert Choir, teaches private voice and flute, and Musicianship and Classical Music Appreciation. In 2006 Cassandra founded the Cuesta Concord Chorus and has enjoyed touring the world with them singing with fellow choirs and for veterans. Ms. Tarantino became Director of Music in 2017. In April of 2021, Ms. Tarantino passed her Level III Sommelier Exam with the International Sommelier Guild. She has since become the Sommelier at CASS Winery in Paso Robles and has designed private wine events at Beda’s Biergarten in San Luis Obispo.
After spending 15 years in Higher Education Administration, Jen finally pursued their call to ministry and recently received an MDiv degree from Church Divinity School of the Pacific. Jen is passionate about connecting with those finding themselves unwelcomed in religious communities, is passionate about justice issues, including Queer and Trans inclusion, food, and housing insecurity, and is looking forward to working with the students at Cal Poly and Cuesta. Jen has also been a poll worker since they were eligible in most elections. Fun Fact about Jen: They love music, musicals, and any accessible hiking trail they can find.
Pastor Karen came to St. Stephen’s in 2018, having retired from 25+ years of ordained ministry. She has an educational background in nursing, chemistry, environmental management, and theology. She graduated from the Church Divinity School of the Pacific in 1992 and has served as an associate and rector in several different churches in CA. The three great loves in her life are Medicine, the Church, and Steph (her partner). She and Steph are delighted to be part of the St. Stephen’s family.
Fr Ian became Rector in 2016. Prior to moving to SLO, Fr Ian served as the University of Chester’s Chaplain to the Warrington Campus and to the Faculty of Health & Social Care after serving in the parish of St Clement’s Chorlton-cum-Hardy in Manchester, UK. Prior to ordination, Fr Ian worked in Environmental, Health & Safety consulting in the Silicon Valley and then corporate events management and marketing. Following God’s call, Fr Ian attended seminary at the University of Cambridge and was ordained in the Diocese of Manchester, Deacon in 2004 and Priest in 2005. He was born in California, and was raised in both rural western Nebraska and on the central coast of California. Fr. Ian is very interested in showing the Church and active faith in a positive light in the public arena, including in the media. He hosts a monthly radio segment on KCBX public radio called “Playing With Food”.