There was already a St Stephen's church in Chinon in the eleventh century, but the present church was built in the fifteenth century, probably by the architect Robert Mesnager. The church has a single nave with seven bays, and a sanctuary certainly contructed later. The organ loft dates from the nineteenth century. The first three bays (starting from the sanctuary) must have been constructed during the episcopate of Jean Bernard (1441-1446 or 1448), since the arms of this archbishop of Tours are on the keystone of the vault of the third bay.

The last two bays and the portal date from the period of Philippe de Commines, who was governor of Chinon from 1477 until 1483. His shield is over the entrance. The family of Bec-de-Lièvre (Harelip), whose shield is one of the last bays, must also have contribued to the construction of this part. The shield at the top of the portal is that of the Chinon's town, and replaces the shield with the arms of France which was chiselled off during the Revolution. The statue in the center is that of Saint Stephen, patron of the Church.'

In the church there is a statue of Saint Joan of Arc, by François Sicard; a painting of St-Peter leaving Rome; some traces of a twelfth century fresco of St-Mexme, a sculpted pulpit, whose panels represent the for gospels, with, in the center one, Jesus with St-Peter; a crucifixion group in bronze from a white marble table, at the entrance of the sanctuary, St-Joseph and St-Mexme's statues; those of St Antony of Padua and St-Domitique in the chapel of the Virgin, as well as one of our Lady at the entrance which dates from the period of Louis XIII (XVIIth century).

Aside from the architecture, the most remarquable feature of the church is the collection of stained glass windows. They are the work of L. Lobin and where executed between 1858 and 1887. The three windows of the sanctuary are of St-Stephen. The first on the left has two scenes: the top represents St-Peter laying his hand on St-Stephen and his six companions to ordain them deacons. This episode is recorded in Chapter 6 of Acts of the Apostles. The lower part represents St-Stephen performing charity's acts, distributing food to the poor and infirm.

The second window, in the center, represents the St-Stephen's martyrdom. St-Stephen did not stop at distributing food; he announced the Resurrection and Triumph of Christ to the Hellenistic Jews. This earned him arrest and death by stoning. The window shows him being condemned, standing before the judges of Osrael (the Sanhedrin). Already, in the crowd, a hand is raised with a stone to kill him, Stephen then declares: "...and behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing on the right hand of God". This is why the upper part of the window represents the Holy Trinity: God the Farmer holding in his hand the scepter of sovereignty and the terrestrial globe; Christ seated rather than standing, with the Cross; and the Holy Spirit, shown as a dove emitting rays of light.

This window was donated to the parish by Maire-Etienne de David, baron of St-Hilaire, whose arms can be found in the left-hand medaillon (King David holding his harp). on the other side is a medaillion representing Sainte-Thérèse d'Avila. M. de St-Hilaire married Marie-Artémise de la Chesnaie, whose arms bear the devise "IMPATIENS PUGNAE" (impatient to fight). This center window was inaugurated in 1958, on St-Stephen's Day, the patronal feast of the church, since St-Stephen was the donor's patron.

The right-hand window is also divided into two parts. Below, one can see the conversion of St-Paul, which was prepared by the witness of St-Stephen during his martyrdom, at which St-Paul was present. The upper part of the window shows the discovery of the relics of St-Stephen. It is said that, by divine inspiration, the priest Lucien knew where Stephen's body was buried, and the bishop John of Jerusalem, with other bishops and priestst, opened the tomb. Miracles of healing took place: one can see a paralytic raising his now useless crutches. This discovery took place in the reign of the emperor Honorius, about 400.

The window on the far right in the choir illustrates the death of St-Martin de Candes. This window dates from 1882. The devil is shown mounting a last assault; Martin is saying: "... what have you come here for, cruel beast? There is no part of me that belongs to you, and the bosom of Abraham is open to receive me.", Martin gave up the gost in the night of the 8th november 397.

The south window near the choir tells the story of the siege of Chinon by Aegidius in 446, when the prayers of St-Mexme, a disciple of St-Martin, called down the rain which saved the besieged townpeople from thirst. Saint Mexme founded a monastory in Chinon.

On the north side, the next window represents the visit of Sainte-Radegonde to Jean of Chinon. Radegonde had obtained permission from her husband Clotaire to devote herself to the religious life. She founded a house of prayer at Saix, not far from Candes, before founding the Holy Cross in Poitiers. The window, which was done in 1879, bears the arm of Pope Leo XIII and those of the Archibishop of Tours, Monseigneur Collet.

.The last window in the choir, on the far left, shows the famous episode of the recognition of the Dauphin Charles VII by Joan of Arc, on her arrival in Chinon, which took place on the 8th or 9th of march 1429. Above the scene, we can see the St-Michael, Catherine and Margaret; and below it, the arms of France and those of Joan of Arc.

In the chapel near the entrance of the church is the baptistry with a window depicting the baptism of Clovis, which took place on December 25th 496 and was performed by St-Remi with extraordinary pomp, 3000 Franks followed their leader. Clovis had married Clotilde. After his baptism, Clovis was accepted as king by the clergy. This window dates from 1887.

In the chapel of the Virgin Mary to the Blessed Simon Stock, the Superior of Carmel, in which Mary gave him the scapular, saying "... take this scapular, my son, as the livery of my brotherhood" (the Carmel).

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