Our History

From its beginnings in 1851, St. Stephen's Church has always sought to respond to the needs and concerns of the whole community. In 1870 the founders of St. Stephen’s Church opened the St. Stephen’s School, with the purpose of educating the children from families of modest income in the community. At the time it was the only private school in the area. As the town of Millburn improved its municipal education system there was no longer a need for a private school. It closed around 1880. St. Stephen's opened a nursery school as soon as the construction of an education building was completed in 1960. The parish transferred the operation of the school to a private organization at a later date.

In 1997, however, the Vestry (elected members of the congregation who manage the church) decided that more high-quality, affordable early childhood education and child care was needed in the area. The buildings were renovated to this purpose and St. Stephen’s Preschool was reopened in 1998.