St Stephen's Church, Upper Mount Street is affectionately known to generations of Dubliners as 'The Pepper Canister', because of its distinctive dome. This classic church on an island site was designed by John Boden and completed in 1824. It was the last of a series of Georgian churches built by the Church of Ireland.

The church is elegant and attracts many painters, photographers and local historians. Its arched style is derived from three Athenian monuments; the Erechtheum (Portico), the Horoligum (Clock Tower) and the Monument of Lysicrates (Campanile)

A feature of Georgian churches was their brightness, which was enhanced by the use of plain glass windows. Too often this effect was destroyed in the Victorian period by an over-use of stained glass, frequently of indifferent quality.

St Stephen's is fortunate in that it retains a sufficient amount of plain glass to make it bright and cheerful, while the stained glass is generally of good quality. Many of the windows are worthy of inspection, especially the central window in the apse, which depicts the martyrdom of St Stephen.

The organ was built in 1754 by John Snetzler a friend of Handel and the casing is particularly attractive. The pulpit is magnificent and has a canopy made of Italian rosewood and is a classic example of relief woodcarving. The panels bear the symbols of the four evangelists: a man (St Matthew), a lion (St Mark), an ox (St Luke), and an eagle (St John).

The altar frontals are considered to be amongst the most beautiful frontals in the Church of Ireland. The war memorial records 47 names of men killed in the two world wars. Remembrance Sunday is observed every year.

There are many famous people associated with the church and parish. Sir Charles Villiers Stanford (1852-1924) distinguished composer, conductor and teacher of music, was born at 2 Herbert Street. He began his musical education in St Stephen's Church.

Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu (1814-73), the Irish novelist and internationally acknowledged master of the ghost story genre, lived at 70 Merrion Square and 15 Warrington Place.

Interestingly, his neighbour and fellow parishioner Stanford set two of his poems to music. Hon. Arthur Wellesley, Duke. of Wellington (1769-1852), victor of the battle of Waterloo, was probably born at the home of his father, Earl of Mornington at 24 Merrion Square.

William Butler Yeats (1865-1939), poet playwright, and senator, lived at 82 Merrion Square between 1922 and 1928. The funeral of his brother, Jack Yeats, the great artist took place at this church on 30th March 1957.

Elizabeth Bowen (1899-1973), novelist, lived at 15 Herbert Place, the familyÕs town house. In her novel 'Seven Winters' she describes her childhood days.

Thomas Davis (1814-1845) poet, died at his mother's house in 67 Lower Baggot Street, and no doubt worshipped in the church. He is regarded as the father of romantic nationalism, and strove to provide a common sense of nationality among Irishmen of all creeds.

Thanks to the generosity of the ESB, the National Heritage Council and the Business Friends of St Stephen's, the church was extensively restored in 1992.