St. Stephen, Martyr's parish was founded in the spring of 1997 under the then-Bishop of Richmond, Most. Rev. Walter Francis Sullivan who served as Bishop of Richmond from July 1974 - September 2003.[2] The founding priest, Fr. James Gordon, presided over the community's first liturgy held in the gymnasium of nearby Southeastern Elementary School on June 29, 1997. Approximately 150 families comprised the initial parish, which has since grown to include over 1500 families living in the Great Bridge, Hickory, and Currituck areas.
From June 1997 to June 2002, the St. Stephen, Martyr parish did not have an official place of worship, so the Masses were held in Southeastern Elementary School and Twiford Funeral Home until enough money could be raised to build a church. Construction of the parish's worship space, now known as Gordon Hall, began in February 2002 and was completed and dedicated on June 18, 2002 by Bishop Sullivan.
