St. James Episcopal Church at 4620 California at 8th Avenue turns 120 this year. On January 21st, they’ll celebrate their birthday with a Founder’s Ball.
The ball promises to be a fun night filled with live entertainment and dancing to the music of the Ragtime era and the Roaring 20’s. All are invited to attend, including high school youth, and tickets are $20 in advance or $25 at the door. Attire is period dressy or semi-formal and fanciful.
The ball runs from 7:30pm until 11pm. To purchase tickets, call (415) 751-1198 or email stjames@stjamessf.org. Childcare is available; call in advance to reserve.
St. James has always been in the Richmond District, but has moved several times in its 120 year history. It started in 1890 in the storeroom of a private home on Point Lobos Avenue (now Geary Boulevard) and Arguello. The name St. James’ was chosen because it was from St. James’, Philadelphia, where Bishop Nichols served before coming to the Diocese as a Bishop.
A Guild Hall was erected on Clement Street (between 5th and 6th Avenues) in 1893 in a lot purchased for $3,500. The construction of the hall cost $1,199.
After sustaining some damage from the 1906 quake and contending with the growing business traffic on Clement Street, the church purchased three lots on California Street between 8th and 9th Avenues, where construction of the present church building was begun in 1923. Read more about the church’s history.
In addition to religious services, St. James also runs the Community Learning Center, founded in order to encourage, manage and provide facilities for educational, service, and community building programs that serve the needs of children, youth, adults and seniors in the Richmond District and beyond.
Happy 120th birthday to St. James Church! Let’s hope they have a BIG cake to hold all those candles. 🙂
Sarah B.