Saint James

Gazing upon Saint James, one can almost hear the echoes of its rich history. Saint James Episcopal Church stands as a testament to faith and community. It’s a church with two intertwined stories, a place where histories merge and spirits unite. Saint James Parish began its journey in 1873. It was established by the Diocese of Maryland for a group of churchgoers in Northeast Washington, D.C. Remarkably, Saint James holds the distinction of being the first Anglo-Catholic congregation in the District. A tradition that continues to this day. The first services were held not in a grand church, but in the cozy parlors of a rented house at 809 H Street NE. The church’s baptismal records reveal the names of its earliest members: Albert Edward Hodges and Ida Maria Low, baptized on April 16, 1876. The very ground we stand on today became the church’s home in 1883. The first service here, at the current location of Saint James, took place on All Saints’ Eve in 1886. The church was blessed with long-term leadership. Father James Walters Clark guided the congregation from 1882 to 1925. Even a vestry member elected in 1881, Henry Lewis Bryan, served for over half a century, remaining on the vestry until 1933. Father Clark’s legacy is one of devoted service, offering daily Mass, matins, and evensong, and providing wise counsel to his parishioners. The story of Saint James is not just one story, but two. In 1899, St. Monica was established as an African American parish. In 2007, these two congregations, St. Monica and St. James, merged. This merger created a new, unified church, where a majority of the current members joined after 2007. They identify strongly as one faith community, a testament to the power of unity and shared belief. Within Saint James, you’ll find artifacts that whisper stories of the past: a baptismal font from the late 19th century, a brass lectern, a tower bell, a silver chalice and paten, and even a censer. Three crucifixes grace the church. One depicts the Resurrected Christ, created by local sculptor Berthold Schmutzhart. Another, a German crucifix from Oberammergau, adorns the altar. A third crucifix by Schmutzhart hangs in the Parish Hall. A historic Steinway grand piano, dating back to 1883/1884, fills the space with the potential for music. The Stations of the Cross, originally polychrome, now stand in stark white, painted around 1959 after the original colors deteriorated. The stained-glass windows, created and maintained by Washington Art Glass Studios, cast colorful light onto the congregation. Today, Saint James stands as a beacon of faith, a testament to the enduring power of community, and a place where history comes alive.