Beginnings

The parish of St, Stephens Droylsden was established in 1935. It first celebrated mass in a room above the Co-Op at the Toll Bar,
Market Street. The appointed Parish Priest at this time was Father Malone and his sister Miss Nora Malone (known as Mollie) came as the headmistress of the new school.

Under the ministrations of Father Malone, with his hard work and that of the parishoners, St.Stephen's began to grow as a parish and a community. Miss Malone played the piano and with the involvement of the orchestra formed by Father Malone, an operatic society was formed putting on such performances as Gilbert and Sullivan's HMS Pinafore. A parish dance was held in the school after benediction on Sunday. At Christmas the men of the parish would write, direct and perform a pantomime for the rest of the parish. Also a Christmas fayre was held in December, many other fundraising events were also held. This led to the purchase of a wooden hut to serve as a Church and was heated by coke burning stoves, the Presbytery and school were built at this time. The school caretaker was Mr Tom Shortall.