Celebration to Mark St James’ 100th Anniversary
THIRD LOCATION. The church moved to its current site on Wilshire Blvd. in 1926.
“Our centennial theme is ‘ever ancient – ever new'” said the Rev. Dr. Paul Kowalewski, rector of St. James in the City Episcopal Church. The church will be celebrating its 100th anniversary on Sun., March 25 at 4 p.m. at the church, 3903 Wilshire Blvd.
The Most Rev. Dr. Katharine Jefferts Schori, the 26th Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church, will attend. Music will be provided by the choir of St. James’ with an instrumental ensemble of brass, organ and percussion, and Children’s Choir. A reception will immediately follow the service, provided by St. James’ Parish and School.
Becoming a great metropolitan parish was probably not foremost in the mind of Rev. Noel Porter when he became the first rector of St. James’ Church in 1911. With a monthly parish income of $12 and a total of 16 parishioners, Rev. Porter looked upon mere survival of the church (then located at Ardmore Ave. and Pico Blvd.) as his most pressing concern.
By 1915 the parish had grown to 250 members and in 1916 St. James’ found new and larger quarters at the corner of Western Ave. and Monette St. By 1920, St. James’ ministry had outgrown its space and the current site at Wilshire Blvd. and St. Andrews Place was purchased. The present church building was completed in 1926.
Kowalewski, who has been rector since the fall of 2005, said, “we are a church with a rich heritage, and we also look forward to the mission and ministry of St. James’ to the city of Los Angeles for the next 100 years.”
The church’s design is a rare example of Flemish Gothic Revival. Architects are Benjamin McDougall and Edward Eames, according to author Robert Berger who included the structure in his book, “Sacred Spaces.”
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