St.
James's History
The Reverend Richard Royal Baker III was rector of St. James’s from 1951-1978. He arrived at the time of social unrest in this country and Mr. Baker very skillfully guided the congregation through this difficult period.
When the Vestry decided to initiate a drive to raise funds to pay for air conditioning the church, Mr. Baker suggested that one half of the funds raised {approximately $50,000} be given to the diocese to build St. Martin’s church in Richmond. Mr. Baker conceived the idea of the Stuart Circle Parish, established in 1970 with St. John’s United Church of Christ, First English Lutheran Church, Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church, and Cathedral of the Sacred Heart “to be an instrument for common work and mutual inspiration.”
As his health began to fail Mr. Baker relied more and more on greater involvement of the laity in assisting in church services and in visiting newcomers and the sick. A tradition of lay involvement has remained a hallmark of St. James’s to this day. Mr. Baker’s health continued to deteriorate and he stepped down as rector in October 1978, ending a twenty-one year tenure at St. James’s.
The Reverend R. Martin Caldwell, Jr. served as rector from August 1979 until October 1981. The Reverend Frank F. Fagan became the rector of St. James’s in August 1982 and remained for ten years. He was pastor to his flock and a much beloved parson. During his rectorship the Children’s Center was established under the direction of Geraldine Johnson. It is a preschool program for both handicapped and healthy children. The Center has been very successful in working with special needs children.
Frank Fagan resigned in December 1992 and the Right Reverend Joseph Heistand served as interim rector while a search committee looked for Mr. Fagan’s successor. In March of 1994 the vestry elected the Reverend Robert B. Trache to be rector. He served St. James’s until 1999. In July of 1994 lightening struck the church and a great fire destroyed the roof and much of the interior of the building. Mr. Trache’s administrative talents were put to good use as the church entered a rebuilding process. Rabbi Jack Spiro of our neighbor temple Beth Ahabah kindly invited the congregation to use the temple for Sunday services while the restoration was in progress. As a result of a successful campaign to raise funds for the restoration of the church there was also enough to build a much needed parking deck.
Bishop Heistand served a second term as interim rector following Mr. Trache’s departure. In 2000 the Reverend Randolph Marshall Hollerith was called to be St. James’s 13th rector. Mr. Hollerith has been received enthusiastically and St. James’s continues to thrive under his leadership.
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