Glastonbury
Connecticut
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Saint James Episcopal Church
History
The history of St. James' Church covers 145 years. The church was founded in 1857 by persons in North Glastonbury friendly to the establishment of an Episcopal church in this place.
On April 25, 1859, the Rt. Rev. John Williams, Assistant Bishop of Connecticut, presided at the laying of the cornerstone. A building of brick, stone, and wood, with a ¾- inch facing of brownstone brought from the Portland, Connecticut, quarries by ox team and river barges, was consecrated in December of 1859.
In February of 1904, the interior of the church was gutted by fire. Diligent efforts by the rector, congregation, and friends made it possible to reopen for services within one year. During the 1930 depression years, St. James' shared a priest for about five years with Christ Church Cathedral in Hartford. St. James' then shared a priest with St. Luke's in South Glastonbury for about eight years.
In 1956, a special fund drive raised $90,000 to replace the parish house, which, although enlarged twice, was still too small. The new two-level attached parish house building now houses the church offices, classrooms, and a large (approx. 35'x50') parish hall with kitchen, library, and meeting room.
The church was enlarged in 1965 to increase the seating by almost 40% to its present capacity of 240 people. The $63,000 cost of the expansion was financed through a local bank and paid as a budget item. A new Gress Miles pipe organ was purchased at this time with special donations of $20,000 from parishioners.
In 1978, through the RAPID (Repairs and Prestige It Deserves) program, a parcel of town redevelopment land was purchased and transformed into a parking lot on the south side of the property. Major repairs to the church and parish house were also part of this program. Significant contributions of time and money by the committee and parish resulted in this very successful RAPID program.
The building has been very well maintained through the years. Over the past ten years, handicap access to the church has been added, the church has been painted and re-carpeted, a new gas furnace replaced an ancient oil furnace and air conditioning was installed. In 2000, the last of 15 fine stained glass windows was added.
The history of St. James' Church covers 145 years. The church was founded in 1857 by persons in North Glastonbury friendly to the establishment of an Episcopal church in this place.
On April 25, 1859, the Rt. Rev. John Williams, Assistant Bishop of Connecticut, presided at the laying of the cornerstone. A building of brick, stone, and wood, with a ¾- inch facing of brownstone brought from the Portland, Connecticut, quarries by ox team and river barges, was consecrated in December of 1859.
In February of 1904, the interior of the church was gutted by fire. Diligent efforts by the rector, congregation, and friends made it possible to reopen for services within one year. During the 1930 depression years, St. James' shared a priest for about five years with Christ Church Cathedral in Hartford. St. James' then shared a priest with St. Luke's in South Glastonbury for about eight years.
In 1956, a special fund drive raised $90,000 to replace the parish house, which, although enlarged twice, was still too small. The new two-level attached parish house building now houses the church offices, classrooms, and a large (approx. 35'x50') parish hall with kitchen, library, and meeting room.
The church was enlarged in 1965 to increase the seating by almost 40% to its present capacity of 240 people. The $63,000 cost of the expansion was financed through a local bank and paid as a budget item. A new Gress Miles pipe organ was purchased at this time with special donations of $20,000 from parishioners.
In 1978, through the RAPID (Repairs and Prestige It Deserves) program, a parcel of town redevelopment land was purchased and transformed into a parking lot on the south side of the property. Major repairs to the church and parish house were also part of this program. Significant contributions of time and money by the committee and parish resulted in this very successful RAPID program.
The building has been very well maintained through the years. Over the past ten years, handicap access to the church has been added, the church has been painted and re-carpeted, a new gas furnace replaced an ancient oil furnace and air conditioning was installed. In 2000, the last of 15 fine stained glass windows was added.