About Saint James Episcopal Church

Saint James Church dates back to its first worship services in 1797, and was the first Episcopal congregation in the County.  Saint James Church claims a number of historic firsts: the first church in the County to have a Sunday School; the first to possess a church bell; and the first to have an organ.

The present church building, erected in 1858, was designed by distinguished American Victorian architect Richard Upjohn, founder of the American Institute of Architects.  Saint James Episcopal Church, a small stone masterpiece of the Gothic Revival style, is a designated site of the National Register of Historic Places.

Worship at Saint James is traditional in style and Anglican in theology. Worship is Eucharist-centered, with the emphasis on Rite I for the 10 a.m. service (with Rite II used on the last Sunday of each month). Music has historically been important to Saint James.  The congregation participates, singing the hymns, psalms, and the service music of the Ordinary. Occasionally, the contemplative service of Evensong is sung.