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A Legacy Built by Leadership

St. James Episcopal Church is a historic parish with more than 200 years of unbroken witness in Baltimore City.

In 1824, our founder, the Reverend William Levington, was living as a free man in Philadelphia. He had stability, opportunity, and established institutions around him. But leadership does not ask where it is easiest; leadership asks where it is needed. God did not call Levington to comfort; He called him to construction. Levington left Philadelphia and stepped into a slave state to build something that would last. He did not build St. James because people needed another church; he built St. James because people needed an institution—a place where faith shapes character, character shapes families, and families shape a community.

 

When Levington passed, the assignment shifted to George Freeman Bragg, who stepped into fragility and uncertainty to stabilize this church, expand orphan care, help found the Niagara Movement with W.E.B. Du Bois, and strengthen The Afro-American newspaper. From Bragg to the transformative rectorship of the Most Rev. Michael B. Curry, St. James has always understood one truth: leadership is about shaping the environment people live inside of.

Having celebrated our Bicentennial in 2024, we are not looking in the rearview mirror. We are forging an exciting new chapter of steady leadership, character formation, and community expansion.

Our Worship: Shaping Character & Atmosphere

Our worship is centered on the Holy Eucharist and shaped by the Book of Common Prayer (Rite II). We honor the beauty, dignity, and reverent order of Anglican liturgy while celebrating a vibrant tradition of sacred music led by the Expressions of Faith Gospel Choir and our Handbell Choir. We lift our praise through the African American Heritage Hymnal, Lift Every Voice and Sing (LEVAS II), and the 1982 Hymnal.

 

Through powerful, unimpulsive biblical preaching and deep pastoral care, our worship forms us to step outside these doors and shift the atmosphere around us.

Our Environment & Context: Rebuilding West Baltimore

Every generation faces broken things, but we do not believe in complaining about what is broken; we talk about who is willing to build. Located in West Baltimore, St. James sees both the challenges and the profound promise of our neighborhood. We know that if you change the environment, you change the possibilities.

We are responsible for what is within our reach, and we demonstrate that commitment through direct action:

 

  • Direct Outreach & Relief: Operating our weekly Food Pantry, the Angel Tree initiative, and supporting global efforts like Water for Sudan.

  • Youth Formation & Community Environment: Supporting Sunday School, back-to-school supply distribution, St. James Academy, hosting St. Luke’s Youth Center, and partnering with Harlem Park Elementary/Middle School. We are actively expanding into youth educational enrichment and multi-generational financial literacy to build a safe, empowering environment for our young people.

  • Institutional & Community Fellowships: Sustaining an active laity through Seniors at Play (65+), the annual 80s Plus Luncheon, the Brotherhood of St. James, Fellowship of St. Francis, Health Ministry, Altar Guild, Acolytes, and Archives Committee.

  • The Levington Project: Demonstrating our commitment to physical and institutional renewal through a 5-year, $500,000 capital campaign launched in Spring 2026, which is already actively renovating our Guild Hall and surrounding grounds.

What We Seek in Our Next Rector: A Partner in Construction

We are not looking for a caretaker to manage a building. We are looking for a Rector who will step into this pulpit as a partner in construction. We desire a leader who will:

 

  • Preach with Prophetic Depth: Deliver Spirit-filled, unimpulsive, biblical preaching that holds up a blueprint of steady leadership rooted in character, commitment, and community.

  • Build an Environment for the Next Generation: Look beyond basic youth programs to build a surrounding culture where our young people are formed, mentored, protected, and prepared to thrive.

  • Provide Grounded Pastoral Presence: Offer compassionate, steady care to our elders, visit the sick, and guide our families through major milestones with a wise and listening ear.

  • Drive Strategic & Civic Expansion: Lead strategic planning that strengthens our internal parish family while expanding our footprint, corporate alliances, and civic impact across Baltimore.

St. James stands at a pivotal moment in our long history. Leadership is not about describing what is wrong; leadership is about building what is right, faithfully, right where you are. We are ready to walk into this next chapter with a priest who brings courage, spiritual depth, and a builder’s heart. Help is coming, and St. James is ready.

Application & Discernment Process

To submit your application materials or express interest in discerning a call with St. James Episcopal Church, please contact the Diocesan Transition Officer:

  • Contact: The Rev. Canon Kristin Krantz, Canon for Transitions

  • Organization: Episcopal Diocese of Maryland

  • Email: [email protected]

  • Phone: 410-467-1399 ext. 1355