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St Stephen's Church was formed in 1988 by the uniting of Causewayend and Powis Parish Churches. Throughout the years these two churches, situated only a small distance apart have stood as a witness to the surrounding
district.
It is interesting to note that in the first Causewayend Monthly Paper of the century, January 1900, there is the following note: "The Watch Night Service held in Powis Church on the 31st December 1899 under the combined auspices of Causewayend and Powis Churches was very well attended, the church being almost full. Our sincere thanks to Mr Watt, the esteemed minister of Powis, for the excellent manner in which the arrangements were carried out. Taking it all in all, it was the most successful watchnight service yet held in the district. We hope that when it falls due to Causwayend to make similar arrangements, we shall endeavour to show like diligence."
The close ties formed between Causewayend and Powis almost from their beginning paid dividends nearly a
century later when the two united under the banner of St Stephen's.
Causewayend was sanctioned as a charge by the General Assembly of the Free Church of Scotland in June 1879. A hall was built and Rev John Rae preached his first sermon on 13th January 1880. The Church was opened on 19th November 1882 at a cost of £3,101, the roll standing at 172 members. Mr Rae was followed by the Rev James A Russell who ministered at Causewayend from 1886 to 1918.
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The Causewayend area was described at the time,
"a triangle whose base is Hutcheon Street and the apex Split-the-Wind. One side of the triangle was formed by Causewayend and Hawthorn Place, the latter so called because of the hedge forming its upper boundary. A fine line of hawthorns it had been in its prime but in the 1880's it had fallen on evil times. Its scroggs and gnarled stems were often festooned with bits of rope, clothes lines etc made to do as swings - known as 'showdin' tows'. Here on summer evenings, young Causewayend disported itself. That the clothes lines were there by leave of the owners is not known but certain it is that much fun resulted from the arrangement. Gaps in the old hedge too, made it an ideal spot for 'tig' and other games. The hawthorns ended where Split-the-Wind
gardens began, then came Split-the-Wind House. Though mainly a working class district, there is an element of
selectness in the hinterland cottage homes behind the houses that form the line of George Street."
Meanwhile, in the mid-1890's a group of influential locals (including Mr Paull of Paull & Williamson's, Solicitors), all belonging to the Church of Scotland had got together to form a plan to build a church on the site at Split-the-Wind. The land belonged to the Misses Leslie of Powis and the church was to be called Powis Church. By
November 1895 the church was built, the architect being A Marshall Mackenzie, who also designed Crathie Church. Certain modifications were made to the original plan - the entrance tower and spire abandoned and also transepts and an apse. A tale is told that on the opening day, once the ribbon had been cut, a boy, George White, later to become the veteran Captain of Causewayend BB rushed into the building and made his claim to be the first person to enter the church after it was opened!
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May 1896 saw the induction of the first Minister of Powis, Rev Thomas David Watt. The Powis Parish at that time extended to include more or less that of the present St Stephen's. Mr Watt regarded the church as a 'spiritual platform' and held evangelical meetings in the Charles Street area. Later, it was discovered that the space below the Church sanctuary at Powis could be adapted to form a small hall and this came about in due course. Mr Watt ministered at Powis for approximately 28 years. In July 1924 Rev Alexander Moir was inducted to Powis and it was in summer 1925 that joint summer services between the two churches became established. After a long ministry Rev Russell of Causewayend moved to Durris in 1918 and Rev W Niven became minister from 1919 to 1927.
Rev Niven was succeeded in 1927 by Rev William McNaught who ministered at Causewayend until 1952. At Powis, Rev Moir was succeeded in 1940 by Rev David G Glen, a young minister who was popular with the younger generation. However, early in his ministry Mr Glen left to become an Army Chaplain. Mr Glen was followed by Rev William Jones from Shetland who ministered for a few years and in 1947, Rev George Skakle was inducted to Powis. Mr Skakle, the last minister of Powis ministered there until the union with Causewayend in 1988 - a
ministry of 41 years.
Disaster overtook Causewayend Church on the night of April 21st 1943 when the church was badly damaged during an air-raid. Joint services were arranged with Powis and the first was held four days later on April 25th. Mr Glen conducted the service and Mr McNaught preached.
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A restoration fund was begun with a target of £2,000. A
licence for rebuilding was granted in 1948, but in the end, the cost of the restoration was nearly £17,000. Most of the cost was met by the War Damages Commission, although the congregational share of over £3,000 was met without
recourse to a single sale of work. In 1951 the church was
re-dedicated with a special service. The following year, Mr McNaught demitted the charge and moved to Edinburgh.
Mr McNaught was followed at Causewayend by Rev
Thomas Potts who ministered from 1953 to 1959. After Mr Potts moved to Abernethy, an investigation by Presbytery's U&R committee allowed the congregation to call another minister and Rev John Vass from Lossiemouth preached as sole nominee on 5th June 1960.
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Interior Damage to the Church sustained in the air raid
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