“Listen closely friends” I say before we dive into the story of St James Church. This Roman Catholic church stands as a testament to faith. It also represents community in West Philadelphia. Let’s explore its fascinating past together.
St James Church’s story began in 1850. It started as the Church of St. James the Greater. It became the first Catholic parish west of the Schuylkill River. Imagine an open field at 38th and Chestnut Streets. This is where the first small church dedicated to St. James was built.
As the Catholic population grew, especially with Irish immigrants, a larger church was needed. Philadelphia architect Edwin Forrest Durang designed the current St James Church. Construction began on October 16, 1881. It concluded on the same day six years later in 1887.
Inside St James Church, you can still find treasures from the original church. The hand-carved wooden confessionals from 1850 remain. They are a tangible link to the parish’s earliest days.
In 1976, St James Church merged with nearby St. Agatha’s Church. The parish became St. Agatha-St. James Church. St. Agatha’s Church had faced multiple fires. This led to a decline in its parish population. The merger brought together two communities. They now share two patron saints.
St James Church has seen changes over the years. Originally, the towers were strikingly asymmetrical. The left tower had a circular profile. It also had a conical pinnacle. In 1930, the circular tower was changed. It was reprofiled to match the square tower. This created the symmetrical look we see today. Electrical lighting was also added at that time.
A renovation in 2003 brought more changes. The interior was repainted. The design became simpler and less colorful. The traditional altar rail was removed. A large ambo was installed.
In 2018-2019, the lower level was renovated. It became a cafeteria and event space. The old school building was also renovated. It now serves as student ministry and office space. A link was built connecting the church to the old school building.
A three-story parochial school was built behind St James Church in the 1920s. The school closed in the 1970s due to declining enrollment. For a time, the University of Pennsylvania leased the building for office space. In 2019, it was renovated again. It became home to the Newman Centers for the University of Pennsylvania and Drexel University.
The Newman Center at the University of Pennsylvania was the first in the country. It was founded in 1893. It operated independently of the parish for many years. In 2010, the Newman Center merged with the parish.
In 2014, the Sodalitium Christianae Vitae (SCV) began to operate the parish. St Agatha-St James is their second house in the United States. The current pastor is Father Carlos Keen.
St James Church stands as a beacon of faith and community. Its history reflects the changes and growth of West Philadelphia. From its humble beginnings to its present-day form, it has remained a constant presence in the lives of many. As you leave today, remember the story of St James Church. Remember its journey through time.