Biography

Archbishop John mostly attended two churches in those formational years, St. Philip’s and St. Mary’s, Kerrisdale.  After attending UBC to earn an undergraduate degree in Science, focusing mostly on Zoology and Evolution, he studied Theology further afield.  Graduating from the College of Emmanuel and St. Chad in Saskatoon, +John’s first parish was in the Diocese of Huron in south-western Ontario.  This was what was known as a three-point parish, three churches making up one parish in the communities of Florence, Bothwell and Aughrim.  A rural area of Ontario centred mostly around agriculture.

Archbishop John is married to Ruth and they have two adult children; both of whom were born not long after the Stephens moved to the town of Squamish.  +John assumed the role of Rector of St. John the Divine in Squamish in 1995.  During that time the parish built a new church building to accommodate the growth and development of the parish. 

They moved to St. Philip’s, Dunbar in 2001 as +John was appointed to be the Rector there to bring new vision, stability, growth and stronger sense of community.  This was accomplished in a variety of ways, not least of all was the commitment to liturgy, preaching, parish visiting and pastoral care.  During this time +John was appointed to be an Archdeacon of the Diocese and served on numerous committees and task forces.