In 2002 there were 5822 people listed on the electoral rolls (people who consider themselves to be members of a church) in the Stepney Area, an increase of over 7% since the last official count in 1996. Churchgoers in Stepney come from many cultural and ethnic backgrounds with a high proportion of African and Afro Caribbean members.
The Bishop of Stepney, The Right Reverend Stephen Oliver, is responsible for more than 124 clergy. They work in 64 churches and also as chaplains in institutions such as schools, higher education institutions, hospitals and prisons.
Welcome to the Stepney Episcopal Area.
Stepney is the special responsibility of the Bishop of Stepney, the Rt Rev Stephen Oliver, supported by the Archdeacon of Hackney, the 
.
The Archdeaconry is divided into three deaneries which are:
The Stepney Episcopal Area covers the London boroughs of Hackney, Islington and Tower Hamlets. Like much of London the area spans great social and economic contrasts. The three boroughs contain some of the most deprived wards in the country alongside neighbouring districts of expensive housing – as in the south of Islington and Hackney and the rapidly growing businesses in the Docklands in Tower Hamlets.
The East End of London has been well known for centuries as a place where refugees and immigrants to this country have settled, and all three boroughs are home to large minority ethnic communities. Developing relationships with other faiths is crucial in Tower Hamlets in particular, where there is a large Bangladeshi community.
There are 29 Church of England voluntary aided schools in the area; 26 primary and three secondary. One of the secondary schools, Sir John Cass, has recently come top of the league for the most improved school in England. There are also three universities in the area.
There are eight hospitals, one of which specialises in the treatment of AIDS patients, an Eye hospital and a hospice. There are also two prisons in the area, both in Islington.
