St Stephen on the Cliffs

By 1910 with the increase of housing in the north shore area a decision was taken by to buy a plot of land on which to build a mission church with Rev FB Freshwater, a curate of All Hallows Bispham being given responsibility for it the following year when the corner stone was laid.

The church was consecrated in 1912 by the Bishop of Manchester, and due to it's location was dubbed 'The Church on the Cliffs' by the first People's Warden. Housebuilding continued in the area and by 27 June 1918 St Stephen's was created as a parish in it's own right and Fr Freshwater was inducted as it's first vicar in October of that year. By 1925 with the parish continuing to grow, the original mission church was becoming too small and the first sod on what was to be the present church was cut by the Mayor of Blackpool.

In 1927 the new church was consecrated by The Bishop of Blackburn, the first church to be consecrated in the new Diocese of Blackburn. However the financial position only allowed for the building of the east end and first two bays of the nave. The church would not be completed (although to a slightly different design) until 2002.

St Stephen's connection with Blackpool's entertainment world was strengthened when actors and artists subscribed to create the Actors Chapel in 1928. The chapel features a reredos with a double procession of carved singers, dancers and musicians above the marble altar. The side panels bear the names of theatrical benefactors, and many famous names can be seen, such as Noel Coward, George Formby, Arthur Askey and Ivor Novello. The additional panel, which bears the names of donors who were members of the theatrical profession, was unveiled by Gracie Fields in May 1929.

In 1949 St Stephens made history again by becoming the first church to incorporate a columbarium, the chapel of repose for the ashes of departed parishioner's.