It is mentioned for the first time in the charters granted by William the Conqueror to the two abbeys of Caen under the name of sanctus Stephanus Vetus in around 1067.

[2] The qualifier "old" distinguishes it from the church of the Abbey of Saint-Étienne, Caen (the Abbaye aux Hommes), under construction from the 11th century.

Because of its exposed position along the ramparts of the city, the church was badly damaged during the Hundred Years' War, particularly during the Siege of Caen in 1417.

Threatened with demolition, it was saved at the very last minute thanks to the action of Arcisse de Caumont and Antoine Charma.

Since that time the church has not been the object of restoration work and in its state of disrepair is not open to the public.