A Church Born on Lafayette Square
St. James' Episcopal Church stands at 1020 West Lafayette Avenue in Baltimore, looking out onto Lafayette Square on the city's west side. The parish is one of the oldest Black congregations in the Episcopal Church and traces its identity to a pioneering nineteenth-century priest who helped plant African American Episcopal life in the South.
The church's mission is plain and direct: To demonstrate through Thought, Word and Deed the way of love as shown by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Members and visitors describe the parish as a warm, historic congregation that has stayed rooted in its inner-city neighborhood across two centuries.
The Reverend William Levington and the Parish's Roots
St. James' was founded by the Reverend William Levington, a New York native who is recognized as the first Black priest to serve as a missionary of the Episcopal Church in the South. Levington was ordained a deacon on March 14, 1824, and ordained a priest on March 23, 1828. Both ordinations were performed by Bishop William White of Pennsylvania at St. Thomas' Church in Philadelphia - the same bishop who had earlier ordained Absalom Jones, founder of St. Thomas' parish in 1795, when Levington was still an infant in New York.
A sampler signed by William Levington and dated July 4, 1832 is part of the collection at Colonial Williamsburg and ties the parish to its earliest years. St. James' continues to use the 1979 Book of Common Prayer as the basis for its worship, following the order used in Episcopal churches across the country and around the world.
St. James' sits within the Episcopal Diocese of Maryland and is connected to the wider life of the church through links to the Episcopal Church, the Anglican Communion, and Episcopal Relief and Development.
Sunday Worship at 9:30 a.m.
The principal Sunday service at St. James' is the celebration of Holy Eucharist Rite II, held each week at 9:30 a.m. Music is central to the service: the parish uses the Book of Common Prayer alongside three hymnals - Lift Every Voice and Sing, the 1982 Hymnal, and the African American Heritage Hymnal - and the liturgy is led by an organist and choir.
Visitors can expect congregational hymns, choral offerings, and a sermon grounded in the Episcopal tradition. On rare occasions only one service is held on a Sunday morning; the events calendar is kept current for visitors planning a visit.
Those who cannot attend in person can subscribe to the parish's YouTube channel and watch the service online.
A Treasury of Music
Music is described as a treasured part of worship at St. James'. The parish supports three ensembles that bring different textures to the liturgy.
The Expressions of Faith Gospel Choir, led by Linda Harris, is a volunteer choir of singers of all ages that performs at Sunday services and responds to invitations throughout Baltimore to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Rehearsals are held on the first, second, and third Thursday of each month at 7:00 p.m. in the Parish Center.
The Keys of Christ Handbell Choir is a newer ensemble of about fifteen ringers whose ages span from ten years old to adult. Open to anyone seeking a challenging way to praise God, the handbell choir performs throughout the church year and rehearses after Mass in the Parish Center.
The Liturgical Dance Ministry interprets music through choreographed movement at special services. The dance ensemble welcomes female dancers between the ages of seven and eighteen, with director Nicole Jones leading the group.
Ministries of Hospitality
St. James' aims to be the kind of place where first-time visitors feel at ease. A Fellowship of Greeters and Ushers staffs the entrance to the sanctuary, welcoming members and newcomers alike and offering assistance to anyone in need.
After the Sunday service, a Fellowship Hour offers light refreshments in the Parish Center. Guild and lay-organization members take turns preparing the spread, and the gathering is described as a treasured time in which to greet family and friends in the spirit of love and goodwill.
The parish supports a long list of guilds and lay organizations. They range from the William Levington Acolyte Guild, the St. Agnes Guild, the Altar Guild, the Baruch Group, the Bragg Missionary Guild, the Brotherhood of St. Andrew, St. Cecilia's Guild, a Chess Club, St. Francis' Guild, Comforting Good Shepherds, St. James' Academy, St. Martha's Guild, St. Monica's Guild, the Parish Council, and the Rector's Guild. All welcome new members, and the parish office can connect visitors with the right contact for each group.
Junior and Senior Youth Fellowship groups offer teenagers a safe place to talk through relationships, peer pressure, and questions of faith, while also networking with other youth groups in the diocese and raising funds for the parish through bake sales and seasonal sales of candles and poinsettias.
Ministries of Outreach
The Outreach Committee at St. James' carries the congregation's life beyond its walls through a wide portfolio of programs.
The parish's Food Pantry operates out of the Parish Center and provides groceries, toiletry items, and clothing to roughly thirty-five to forty individuals each month. Volunteers serve hot soup and conversation alongside the distribution.
The Senior Adult Ministry gathers the parish's older members on the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month for activities and trips to points of interest in and around Baltimore.
Each May the Outreach Committee hosts the 80+ Luncheon, a special meal honoring the church's oldest members.
The Health Ministry grew out of the Outreach Committee and now operates as an independent ministry. It has sponsored free screenings and informational seminars on topics ranging from diabetes, hypertension, mental health, HIV and aging, prostate health, skin cancer, and heart-healthy eating.
The Van Ministry uses the St. James' van to bring seniors and others to and from Sunday worship, and also transports children to the Summer Academy and other activities in the diocese.
The Angel Tree Project has, since 2007, delivered a special Christmas gift to more than twenty local children whose parents are incarcerated each year, with year-round activities to keep in touch with the children and their caregivers.
Ministries of Pastoral Care
Two lay programs extend the congregation's pastoral reach to members who cannot always be present in the sanctuary.
Lay Eucharistic Visitors (LEVs) take communion to the sick and shut-in. They visit roughly once a month, after some training and licensing, and are asked to share scripture and prayer, keep members informed of parish news, and report back any needs and concerns.
Stephen Ministry pairs trained lay caregivers with members facing bereavement, hospitalization, terminal illness, separation, divorce, unemployment, relocation, or other life crises. St. James' commissioned its first class of Stephen Ministers in June 2008 after nearly six months of training and continues to recruit new leaders for the team.
Ministries of Liturgy
Behind every celebration of the Eucharist is a team of volunteers who make the liturgy possible.
The William Levington Guild of Acolytes, named for the parish's founder, trains young people and adults to assist clergy during services. Acolytes carry crosses, torches, flags, and banners in procession and take on many other responsibilities. Training is offered throughout the year, and candidates from about age nine through high school, as well as adults, are invited to serve.
Lectors and Chalicists read the Old and New Testament lessons, the Psalms, and lead the Prayers of the People. As chalicists they also administer the cup of wine in the Eucharist. Public reading is described as a way to grow in familiarity with both scripture and the Episcopal tradition.
The Altar Guild cares for the altar linens, vessels, and silver used in worship. Members launder and iron linens, polish silver, and set up for weekly services and special services such as weddings and funerals.
Membership, Baptism, and Confirmation
St. James' welcomes visitors and invites those who have decided to join to complete an online application or pick up a form in the Narthex or the church office. Members commit to regular attendance and to supporting the work of the parish with time, talent, and treasure. The Episcopal Church welcomes people from all faith backgrounds, and the parish notes that about eighty percent of Episcopalians today come from other denominations.
Those joining from another Episcopal parish can request a Letter of Membership transfer. Baptism is offered to people of any age and is normally celebrated during public worship on the dates published in the church bulletin, known as The Call. Baptism preparation is required for adults and the families of infants.
Members who were baptized as infants may affirm their faith as adults through confirmation by the bishop. The bishop may also receive members confirmed in other denominations into the Episcopal Church, and those who wish to recommit themselves can reaffirm their baptismal covenant.
Weddings and Event Space
St. James' hosts weddings as joyful celebrations of worship and praise. Couples considering a wedding at St. James' are asked to read the wedding customary and then complete a wedding inquiry form; a member of the clergy follows up.
The Parish Center's Fellowship Hall and other parish spaces can be reserved for events through an online reservation form, and the parish is also home to the African Episcopal Church of St. Thomas link in Philadelphia among its wide circle of Episcopal connections.
Supporting the Parish
Gifts to St. James' may be made in person at the church, by mail, online, or by phone. Online giving is handled through Pushpay, with options to direct support toward the general offering and tithes, apportionment, outreach, the building fund, the Crabfeast, 1020 Unleashed, or a special offering. Checks may be made payable to St. James' Episcopal Church, Attn: Financial Management Team, 1020 Lafayette Ave., Baltimore, MD 21217-2555.
For longer-term gifts, the parish points members to the Episcopal Church Foundation for information on bequests, life-income gifts, and charitable trusts.
The parish office is open Tuesday through Thursday from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. The phone number is 410-523-4588, and the parish can be reached by email at stjamesonthesquare@gmail.com. Newcomers are welcome at any Sunday morning service, at the food pantry distribution, or by joining one of the many guilds that make up the life of this historic Lafayette Square parish.