St Stephen’s church

St Stephen’s is the oldest church in Sopwell. It stands on the corner of Watling Street and St Stephens Hill. The original church was built by the Abbot Ulsinus in AD 948 and is on a Roman burial site. It was one of the four churches designed to cover the approach to the town, the others being the Abbey, St Michael’s and St Peter’s. Sepulchral remains have been found there. In the twelfth century the church was replaced by a Norman construction parts of which still remain. In 1220 under Abbot, William Trumpington, a lady chapel was added. More changes were made in 1860 when the church was restored. St Stephen’s has the oldest font in St Albans, dated 1350. One of the many items of interest in the church is the brass lectern in the shape of an eagle. Here are some images of the church over the years reproduced from the archives courtesy of the previous incumbent the Reverend. David Ridgeway. The images without dates are probably from the early twentieth century.

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