St Stephen's Church was built in the 13th century, on the site of an earlier 11th century church, and rebuilt around 1470. The church was positioned on the banks of the River Frome which had been diverted at around this time to create Bristol Harbour. The tower and east window were paid for by John Shipward, Mayor of Bristol in 1469. The tower being built by the mason Benedict (or Benet) Crosse. In 1703 the crown was wrecked in a great storm and further restoration work also took place in 1914 and 1970. The River Frome and harbour by St Stephen's were covered in 1936-1938 to create the present-day 'Centre'.
The tower measures approximately 18 ft by 20 ft at its base, and rises to a total height of 152 ft. It originally contained six bells but these have been replaced over the years and the number increased to the present ring of 12, with an additional sharp 2nd providing a light octave. The tower is typical of Somerset churches, but with the addition of a "Gloucestershire crown" of arcaded battlements, pinnacles and open-work arcading.
It is known that bells have been in the tower for over 400 years; the ordinances of the Antient Society for 1693 suggest there were 6 bells at that time and in 1759 that number was increased to 8 with bells cast by Abel Rudhall of Gloucester. In 1891 the bells were rehung and two new trebles added by the Bristol firm of Llewellin & James but, unfortunately, the whole operation had to be repeated by the same firm in 1906.
In 1951 the bells were reclappered and hung on ball bearings by the London firm of Mears & Stainbank (still active today under the name of the Whitechapel Foundry). In 1970 when the bells were lowered 25 ft in the tower and the crown of the tower rebuilt. The front 3 bells were recast and 2 new trebles added by Taylors of Loughborough to form the light peal of 12. In 2005 a sharp 2nd (also cast by Taylors of Loughborough) was added in memory of Pat Bird, a well known Bristol ringer, educationalist and former headmaster of Hengrove School. This extra bell allows a lighter ring of eight to be rung.
| Bell | Date | Founder | Dia. | Weight | |
| Treble | 1969 | Taylor | 22" | 3-0-0 | |
| Sharp 2nd | 2005 | Taylor | 3-0-10 | ||
| 2nd | 1969 | Taylor | 23.13" | 3-0-10 | |
| 3rd | 1969 | Taylor | 23.75" | 3-1-12 | |
| 4th | 1969 | Taylor | 26" | 4-0-4 | |
| 5th | 1969 | Taylor | 28.25" | 5-0-15 | |
| 6th | 1759 | Abel Rudhall | 30.63" | 6-0-6 | |
| 7th | 1759 | Abel Rudhall | 32.5" | 6-1-20 | |
| 8th | 1759 | Abel Rudhall | 34" | 7-0-22 | |
| 9th | 1759 | Abel Rudhall | 36" | 7-2-21 | |
| 10th | 1759 | Abel Rudhall | 38" | 8-3-19 | |
| 11th | 1759 | Abel Rudhall | 42.88" | 13-1-2 | |
| Tenor | 1759 | Abel Rudhall | 48.63" | 19-1-17 | in E -14(654 Hz) |
Over 600 peals have been rung at St Stephen's, the earliest being Grandsire Triples on 9 February 1761. The full list of peals rung at St Stephen's is available in the Felstead database, and a more detailed analysis of the peals rung since 1985 is available through peals.co.uk.