St. James is indeed home to a wide blend of singles and families, from an eclectic mix of nationalities, religious backgrounds and lifestyles. Some parishioners live within walking distance of the church, and some come from farther away. There is a spirit of fellowship and friendliness, caring and commitment, strength and solid Christianity that can be felt by even the most casual attendee. When people enter our front door on any given Sunday they can feel our home-like atmosphere.
Our History
Cliffside Chapel was erected in 1878 and dedicated in affiliation with the Presbyterian Church of Montclair. Differences arose over the use and control of the chapel and it was closed for a considerable amount of time. On December 15, 1887 the Chapel was leased and opened as a Diocesan Mission of St. Luke’s, Montclair and bought the following year for a sum of $5,000.
On December 12, 1888 The Right Reverend Thomas A. Starkey, Bishop of Newark gave canonical consent to the formation of St. James Parish and the name “Saint James Church Upper Montclair” was adopted.
In 1889 the stone cross was placed on the gable on the front side of the building and electricity was installed for light and the organ. In 1905 the Men’s Guild was established and was the driving force in acquiring funds to enlarge the physical plant. In 1910-13 the vestry purchased an additional fifty feet of land to the south of the church and built a new parish hall. The first regular Every Member Canvas was conducted in 1913.
The parish was very involved in supporting the war effort during World War I. The parish hall teemed with people each day making garments and bandages. In addition, 93 men and women from the congregation served our country. Seven of them gave their lives. After the Armistice a parishioner, Alexander Luchars, offered considerable funds to erect a bell tower as a memorial to those who died and a thank offering for those who returned. The congregation and community gave eleven chimes. Francis A. Nelson, also a parishioner and noted local architect, designed the tower. The corner stone with a Cross of St. James was laid on August 23, 1919 bearing the inscription “For God and Country”.
In the mid 1920’s the chancel and nave were enlarged and a choir room and guildhall were added. A redesign of the chancel, constructed of solid oak by the J. and R. Lamb Studios, was completed in the early 1940’s. In 1946 the stained glass windows, the work of the Henry Lee Studios in Philadelphia, were finally completed.
During the late 1950’s, membership continued to grow and the baby boom greatly increased the number of children at St. James. The Judd Education Wing was built in the mid 1960’s to accommodate our expanding church school membership and is now also used by the St. James Preschool Program. The courtyard created by this addition became our memorial garden and columbarium in 1987.
St. James has been an established Episcopal Church for over 115 years and in that time we have been known for our excellent and varied youth programs, music presentations and one of the most sought-after preschool programs in town. We see the use of our building as an important part of our ministry and frequently open our doors to other non-profit organizations or programs such as Alcoholics Anonymous or other self-help groups, or a mentoring program for teens, or for Buddhist monks to hold a fundraising concert. We feel a central part of life in Upper Montclair, which is apparent every day when our front yard is filled with people enjoying their lunch, the afternoon shade, or an evening concert. In the afternoons and on weekends our playground is teeming with young children and parents enjoying some playtime. While we have struggled with various building issues over the years, we think that is only natural for a building that is more than 125 years old; all in all, it is a wonderful building and has housed our community graciously. We are blessed to call it our home.
