St. Stevie Lynn the Weaver
St. Stephen’s mission statement states that they seek
transformation of their lives and community through a gospel of love, compassion and justice.
Anyone paying attention can tell that this community knows how to back up their words with
actions, not just sometimes but through constant community service.
St. Stephen’s was built around the time of the American civil war. We know they’ve had a
history of direct community engagement since at least the late 1930s-mid 40s when there was a
documented campaign of door knocking in Lynn, specifically including members of the African
American and African Caribbean communities.
In 1970, the parish oversaw the building of St. Stephen’s tower a 130-unit affordable housing
unit. Later St Stephen’s set up a homeless shelter in its dining room, in defiance of city
ordinances, successfully putting pressure on the city until it set up an official homeless shelter. It
was one of the Parish’s that created My Brother’s Table in 1982, which continues to be the
largest soup kitchen on the North Shore, and who the parish continues to work with. They went
on to create their own food pantry, giving out bags of food to both individuals and families.
They’ve also made a supply of gently used clothes available when the pantry is open.
In the 1980s, St Stephen’s became a founding partner of the Lynn Organizing Project, designed
to address the city’s growing need for additional city services. That groups continues on as the
Essex County Community Organization (ECCO). The two groups together have fought for
things like immigrant rights, criminal justice reform and economic justice.
In 2014 St Stephen’s formed the Beloved Community Team (BCT) to focus on racial injustice.
In 2016 St Stephen’s hosted the first LGBTQ+ Pride celebration in Lynn, and is still involved in
Lynn United Pride which formed after.
This is really just the big things that are well documented. They have gone to protests, supported
local artists, organized Christmas present drives and summer camps. They are a community who
insists on being heard, and always follows up with actions, not just to make their members
stronger, but to make Lynn, the North Shore and the world stronger.
