St. Martin’s Chapel merged with St. Stephen’s Church on November 14, 1954. The Reverend Herman E. Blackman was appointed the rector of the newly merged church. Members from both congregations settled into making the building at 809 Jefferson Avenue their place of worship. Under the leadership of Reverend Blackman, the church continued to grow and fill the spiritual needs of the surrounding community. Many of the congregants’ heritages were Caribbean-American. The many baptisms, confirmations and weddings performed at the church demonstrated its growth. On March 15, 1970, approximately two years after the 1968 Lambeth Conference (according to the Right Reverend Richard B. Martin’s account) the Archbishop of Canterbury, Michael Ramsey, made a surprise visit to this small church in the Bedford Stuyvesant community. The Archbishop of Canterbury celebrated the mass and confirmation with Bishop Martin and Reverend Blackman. Later, he visited, prayed, consoled and blessed a mother, whose three young children had died in a tragic fire. The family that had endured this tragedy was the Ladson family, who lived at 770 Jefferson Avenue, across the street from the church.

During Reverend Blackman’s tenure, the congregation grew to 312. Many additions were added to the physical structure such as: windows removed and replaced with cathedral glass, stoops rebuilt, new choir robing room, new lights, new floor in the Parish Hall, new heating plant (oil burner to replace the coal burner), new guttering, new stoves and the installation of a new organ.

Reverend Blackman served for 24 years, until he retired on January 1, 1978. He was replaced by the Reverend Clarence H. Powers on February 1, 1981. Under Reverend Powers’ leadership, the church continued to grow and attract new congregants. Many structural and cosmetic changes were implemented in the church during his tenure. When Reverend Powers resigned on January 24, 1987, he was succeeded by the Reverend Barclay L. Stoute on November 1, 1988. The church continued to grow and began to undertake the tremendous task of erecting a new church building in the spacious churchyard. Reverend Stoute served until his resignation in September, 2006. On December 1, 2007, the Reverend Audley Donaldson was appointed as Priest-In-Charge. During Reverend Donaldson’s tenure and Rectorship the church experienced new energy, enthusiasm and commitment to our faith and ministry, with a growing congregation. Reverend Donaldson had a special interest in the spiritual development of the parish youth, and he retired in June 2021.