By Brady W. Blackburn

Saint Stephen’s Episcopal Church is a multi-generational congregation located in the Cahaba Heights area of Vestavia Hills, Alabama. From Memorial Day to July they host three services and from August to May they host four services. “The Celtic Service,” which this paper will primarily discuss, is every Sunday at five in the evening. Saint Stephen’s is nestled into the trees of the back corner of Cahaba Heights off Crosshaven Drive. Saint Stephen’s is a relatively medium-sized congregation depending on the time you attend. The Celtic service tends to draw a smaller number of congregants. Saint Stephen’s is defined by their motto, “Growing Together; A church community striving to embody God’s love for every human being.” You will notice throughout the church the attention to nature and holistic approaches to faith, life, and community.

Celtic Tradition and Service

St. Stephen’s is a parish of the Episcopal Diocese of Alabama. Whether you are attending the traditional morning service or the Celtic service, the beliefs taught will be the same. However, there are distinct ways in which the Celtic service presents itself that are different. Celtic tradition is focused on natural, holistic, and spiritual practices. Celtic worship aims to bring creation back to its creator in a holistic communal way.

If you were to walk into a traditional morning service at St. Stephens and then attend the evening Celtic service, you would notice some immediate differences. In the evening, thelights would be a little dimmer, and rather than music being supplied by a piano and choir, there might be a cello, harp, or mandolin. Words such as “calm” would describe the room. Pauses for reflection or thought would be more frequent, there would be a structure to the service but veering off just a little would not be out of the norm. The illustrations used would reflect the natural world such as trees, rocks, and water. The service intends to align daily living and divine rhythm, there is not a single part of your life that this service does not intend to effect. It is meditative and the liturgical texts express the closeness of God. This service aims to heal, shape, and unite the worshiper through God and to God.

Apart from the service itself, practices such as meditation, nature walks, and classes that teach you about things such as wholeness or spirituality are common. St. Stephen’s opened The Threshold Center shortly after a tragic shooting occurred at their church in June 2022. The Threshold Center embodies all things natural, holistic, and spiritually healing. This program is where many of the practices previously discussed are held. The Threshold Center operates out of the Chapel of St. John located across the street from St. Stephen’s. Through the Threshold Center and many other ventures St. Stephen’s tries to be a community driven church. St. Stephens hosts events that are open to the congregants and non-congregants and St. Stephens recently built their Labyrinth Memorial Garden to remember the three people who were killed in the shooting and honor those who survived. tragically passed and the survivors of the June 2022. This garden is open to the public and people are encouraged to visit and to spend time there.

Architecture

The architecture of St. Stephen’s is nothing short of captivating. The Celtic influence, whether intentionally Celtic or not, is grand. Everything from the materials used to the placement of the church screams nature. The building of St. Stephen’s is comprised of majority wood, wood like paneling and stone. The wood and paneling is given a beautiful green color which reflects the natural beauty surrounding the church. The steps leading to the entrance are wonderful, weathered concrete and the stone used, that provides a perfect contrast to the green exterior of the church, is a natural brown and tan color that fully embraces the nature of St. Stephen’s.

The interior of the church maintains a similar theme. The soft white color of the walls extenuates the wooden beams that span across the ceiling of the sanctuary and the hardwood floor and wooden pews are the perfect deep brown stained color. The light fixtures are ever-so-slightly reminiscent of a medieval castle, they hang down by a chain and if a candle was inside of each of them, it would surprise no one. The sanctuary walls are lined with windows on each side and lead you to the altar where a floor-to-ceiling window allows for natural light to fill the room. The windows allow for you to gaze directly at the beauty of God’s creation while the light of his sun permeates the building.

Final Thoughts

It is important to say again that the beliefs across services at St. Stephen’s does not vary. They hold the Book of Common Prayer and beliefs held in the Episcopal Church. However, if you consider yourself someone who enjoys the beauty of God’s natural creation and connects with him through peaceful meditative practices, and you hold to the beliefs of the Episcopal denomination, then maybe the Celtic service at St. Stephen’s is for you. I personally do not attend St. Stephen’s; however, I cannot deny the beauty and reverence that this church holds for the Lord. I personally will remember and carry with me many of the things I learned and observed from St. Stephen’s. Even more than the architecture or structure of service, the people of St. Stephens embody what it means to be a unified congregation. The people of St. Stephens are loving, kind, and welcoming. Not influenced by anything other than the love Christ has shown them, they make every effort to extend that love to those around them.

St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, Celtic Service
Location: 3775 Crosshaven Dr, Vestavia Hills, AL 35223
Services Observed: April 6 and 13, 2025
Website: https://www.ssechurch.org/
Video Archives: http://www.youtube.com/@SaintStephensBirmingham
Affiliation: The Episcopal Church
Congregation Established: 1973

References

“Find A Church.” The Episcopal Church in Alabama. Accessed April 19th, 2025. https://www.dioala.org/find-a-church/

“Celtic Spirituality.” Episcopal Church. Accessed April 19th, 2025. https://www.episcopalchurch.org/glossary/celtic-spirituality/

“Home Page.” The Threshold Center. Accessed April 19th, 2025. https://www.thethresholdcenter.org/vision

“Home Page.” St. Stephen’s Episcopal. Accessed April 19th, 2025. https://www.ssechurch.org/

“The Book of Common Prayer.” The Episcopal Church. 1979. https://www.episcopalchurch.org/what-we-believe/book-common-prayer/.

Brady Blackburn ’25 was a student in Christian Worship: History & Theology in Samford University’s Department of Biblical and Religious Studies in spring 2025.

Published June 13, 2025.