[1] The church serves the loosely defined Montpelier and Clifton Hill areas of Brighton, which lie west of the major Dyke Road and cover the steep slopes between the Seven Dials district and the seafront.

[2] St Stephen's Church had served parts of the district since 1851, when it had been moved to Montpelier Place from its previous location in Castle Square, close to the Royal Pavilion.

[6][7] Bodley was also working on St Paul's Church in West Street, Brighton at the time, on an interior alterations project.

[8] The design of the exterior was reminiscent of the Italianate style, in red brick with horizontal bands of white stone and a steeply pitched slate roof.

[10] The exterior decoration of the new building broadly matched that of the original church, consisting of bands of white stone contrasting with dark red brick, but there is a considerable difference in height.

Bodley was informally associated with this recently formed group, in particular with Edward Burne-Jones and William Morris, a long-term friend of his.

William Morris himself, along with Philip Webb and Charles Faulkner, was responsible for the painting of the chancel roof.

The east end of Burges' building features a large trio of stepped lancets with basic two-light tracery.

"[13] Internal fixtures include a grey marble font and a green serpentine and calcite (verde antique)[14] pulpit, both designed and made by Bodley.

[7] The noted stained glass designer Charles Eamer Kempe was responsible for the restoration and installation of a 15th-century reredos of Flemish origin.