Beneath these very grounds lies a story of resilience. Saint James Episcopal Church in Charleston has roots stretching back to the earliest days of the United States. English settlers first explored James Island in 1670. By 1671, it was established as Jamestown.
In 1706, South Carolina’s assembly allocated funds to establish six churches. Saint Andrew’s Parish encompassed James Island. By 1720, the Anglican congregation on James Island was active. They were recognized as a separate church.
Initially, the congregation gathered in a house. They met with the rector of Saint Andrew’s Parish, Rev. William Guy. Plans for a chapel were mentioned in his report of August 1, 1722. The chapel was likely completed that same year.
James Island was remote. The parish fell into disuse several times. The first instance occurred during the American Revolution. There appeared to be no priest from 1773 to 1787. The church records were destroyed with the building. Little else is known about that time. The chapel building was destroyed, but the third chapel building was completed in 1787.
Following the American Revolution, the Diocese of South Carolina was established. Saint James then became Saint James Episcopal Church. Services were discontinued in 1862 due to the Civil War.
In 1864, the church was destroyed by a fire unrelated to the war. Afterward, services were held in the Presbyterian church. From 1864 to 1899, few services occurred. But in 1898, Saint James was organized as a mission of The Diocese of South Carolina once again. Saint James Episcopal Church played a role in providing farming jobs to unemployed community members.
Regular weekly services resumed in 1946 under Rev. Edward Brailsford Guerry. This was the first time since 1861. He oversaw the construction of a parish house in 1949. A larger new church followed, completed in 1960 and consecrated in 1964. Both buildings still stand today.
Under Rev. Charles Duvall, the congregation grew significantly by 1968. This expansion necessitated doubling the size of the parish house. This provided more Sunday school and office space.
In 2013, some members chose to remove the church from The Anglican Communion and The Episcopal Church. After a decade of court battles, Saint James Parish Church returned to The Episcopal Church and the Diocese of South Carolina in 2022.
Saint James Episcopal Church seeks to create a welcoming space for all people. They aim to worship the Lord and serve their community. It’s a story of faith, resilience, and community.