History of St. James Episcopal Church
1844-2007
Alexandria was first visited by the Right Reverend Leonidas Polk on April 4, 1839. From 1842-1844, occasional services were held by a missionary priest, The Reverend John Burk. The "Fighting Bishop" returned in 1844, and on May 5, confirmed 8 people and officially organized the first congregation. St. James Episcopal Church was received into the Diocese of Louisiana on June 15, 1844, and the parish was incorporated on March 6,1848.
The building of the first church was delayed for several reasons, but the cornerstone was finally laid on All Saints Day 1851. This building was consecrated on June 13, 1854 by Bishop Polk.
The church was very active in missionary work during the time of its first rector, The Reverend Amos McCoy, Mt. Olivet chapel, Pineville, a missionary church of St. James, was consecrated on June 29, 1859 and is still in use as the Bishop's Chapel as well as the offices of the Diocese of Western Louisiana.
The first St. James Church wa destroyed by the fire during the retreat of the Union Army on May 13, 1864. The second church building was first used in October, 1871 but was destroyed by a tornado in May 1872. The cornerstone for the third church was laid on May 25, 1874 in a new location. The altar, chancel furniture, and pews from the second church were saved and used in this third church. On January 27, 1926, the cornerstone was laid for the fourth and present church.
The bell from the third church (1888) was moved to the present church as well as the white memorial tablet which was the cornerstone of the third church. The altar and baptismal font were placed in the main altar and have now been removed and used as a side altar (Mary Altar).
The Bishop's cathedral and sanctuary light in use today came from the third church. St. James' stained glass was made by the Jacoby Art Glass Company of St. Louis, Missouri, and placed in position when the church was built in 1926. Some of the windows depict Christ's life in chronological order, while others reflect scenes and the history of the Anglican church in America. The stained glass in the chapel originates from Christ Church which was a mission church of St. James from 1906 until the two congregations were united in 1926. A summary was compiled by St. James parishioner, Arnetta Gravier, and is located in the church office.
In April 1980, the formation of the new Diocese of Western Louisiana was completed, and the first Bishop wa elected at St. James Episcopal Church. St. James has now become the traditional site for the election of bishops in this diocese.
St. James has had 13 rectors in its more than 150 year history. The parish records from the very beginning to the present have survived the disasters that have destroyed church buildings, and they continue to be housed at St. James. These are perhaps the oldest records in Rapides Parish.
Christ Church Chapel
Established 1906
Christ Church of Alexandria was established in 1906 as a mission of the Episcopal Diocese of Louisiana.
A red brick building was erected on Park Avenue and Sixteen Street, and the windows which were installed in that building are now in our Christ Church Chapel. When that congregation in 1917 voted to unite with St. James, the building was sold but all the stained glass windows were reserved. During the erection of the present St. James Church building in 1926, a chapel was included in the design to accommodate these windows.
There was no plan or theme for the windows of Christ Church. All were memorial or gifts and the design was the choice of the donor. All are stained glass and all were manufactured by the Jacoby Glass Company of St. Louis, Missouri. Eleven of the thirteen windows were installed at the time of the construction of Christ Church building. The other two were put in place following the deaths of a beloved member and the Rector.
Two windows in Christ Church Chapel are of special interest since the glass was manufactured in the manner of Tiffany. The folded glass and opalescence of the colors are marks of Tiffany workmanship. Experts in stained glass tell us these are not Tiffany made but are very good "Tiffany-like."
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