St. Agatha - St. James Church Building

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St. Agatha - St. James Church
Pentecost Sunday, 2002

The building that is now the church of St. Agatha - St. James was once simply the church of St. James the Greater. This Gothic Revival Church was designed by Edwin F. Durang, the most prolific designer of Catholic buildings in late 19th century Philadelphia (Durang was also distinguished by his lineage with one of America's most prestigious theatrical families). Replacing the parish's first church (a humbler stone structure built in 1851), the cornerstone for the present structure was laid on October 16, 1881, and the church was finally dedicated with great acclaim on October 16, 1887.

The new St. James Church was encrusted with gothic features, articulated in its stonework, glass, plaster and wood features, among which, the main oak entrance doors have recently been restored. At the time of its construction, St. James Church was said to have been a premier example of the "gothic style," having no rival in the city and but a few in the nation. Drawing from numerous French and Italianate traditions in its interior construction and ornamentation, Durang composed a spiritual atmosphere that was (and still is) both monumental and intimate, respectful, yet not gloomy.

The church's interior was significantly modified in 1930 with the addition of electric lighting fixtures, terrazzo flooring and marbleizing techniques used on its walls. The photograph below depicts the distinctive banding pattern on columns and arches lost during these modifications.

St. James Church, c. 1887

The church is currently undergoing a capital campaign, begun in Fall 2001 with the repair of the slate roof, and continuing through Summer/Fall 2003 with repair of the interior worship space and two gothic towers.