Church of St Stephen

It is reported in the “Monmouthshire Merlin” of July 1882, that the Rev. F. Bedwell BD, Rector of Holy Trinity, is quoted as saying that “additional church accommodation is urgently needed in Pill” and the “Tredegar Wharf Company has promised to give a piece of land near the Alexandra Docks on which to build a church.”

Having obtained the promise of a site, plans were then drawn up by Mr E.A. Lansdown, of a structure to cost between £2,500 and £3,000. Tenders were requested for the erection of the building and in due course, the following were received and published in the Monmouthshire Merlin in September 1883:

W.M. Blackburn £2,025
W. Bowen & Co, Hereford £2,294
W. Jones & Son, Newport £2,087
L.B. Moore, Newport £2,245
Thos. Prosser, Newport £2,000
D.C. Jones & Co, Gloucester £2,653
Stephen & Bastow, Bristol £2,314
John Williams, Newport £2,100
H. Welsh, Hereford £2,460

After careful consideration, it was decided to accept the tender submitted by W. M. Blackburn of Henry Street, Newport and work began with the laying of the foundation stone on 12th November 1883 by Lord Tredegar.

The building of the church was completed in under twelve months, for on 16th October 1884, the service of consecration took place, and was fully reported in the Monmouthshire Merlin as follows:
“OPENING OF ST. STEPHEN’S CHURCH, NEWPORT…The opening of this sacred edifice, dedicated for public worship according to the rites and ceremonies of the Church of England, was celebrated this morning. The building has been erected in the Parish of Holy Trinity, in the district of Pillgwenlly, for the purpose of providing for the spiritual requirements of the dense population which has, during the last few years, aggregated near the locality of the Alexandra Docks.” The report continues with a description of the services which took place that day. “At 8.30am there was a Celebration of the Holy Communion, of which a large number partook. At 11.45 there was Morning Prayer and Sermon, the sacred edifice being crowded to excess. A large quantity of flags and bunting were displayed in the neighbourhood. The Lord Bishop of Llandaff, accompanied by a large number of clergy, marched into church. The opening hymn was “All people who on earth do dwell” and the appointed psalms being the 24th, 48th and 122nd. The Anthem, by Smart, being “A day in Thy Court is better that a thousand.” The dedication hymn was “O word of God’s love.” The service was fully choral, and Miss A. Morgan very efficiently presided at the harmonium throughout. The sermon was preached by the Rev. W. Conybeare Bruce, Vicar of St. Woolos, who took for his text the 54th chapter of Isaiah, verses 2 and 3.” At the close of the morning service, a public luncheon was laid in the Church Street schoolroom, to which over one hundred ladies and gentlemen sat down and Alderman H.J. Davies presided.