History
St. James Cathedral is the mother church of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America Diocese of Chicago in Chicago, Illinois. The cathedral stands at the corner of Huron and Wabash streets. It is the oldest church of the Anglican Communion and Episcopal tradition in the Chicago area, having been founded in 1834. Originally built as a parish church, that building was mostly destroyed in the Great Chicago Fire. Only the bell tower survived, and this was incorporated into the rebuilt church, including the soot-stained stones around the top of the tower which remain black today. St. James received the status of cathedral in 1928 after the Cathedral Church of St. Peter and St. Paul was destroyed in a fire in 1921, but the arrangement was terminated in 1931. On May 3, 1955, St. James was again designated the cathedral and was formally set apart on June 4, 1955. The church is led by the Episcopal Bishop of Chicago.
Specialties
St. James Cathedral is a vibrant and historic Episcopal church in the heart of downtown Chicago, welcoming you as you are, without conditions or expectations. Week by week, we grow together, following Jesus into a loving, liberating, and life-giving relationship with God, with each other, and with the earth. We find inspiration in traditional worship and progressive, theologically-grounded teaching which fully embraces all people into the body of Christ regardless of age, ethnicity, expression, orientation, or background. We seek to engage with our communities by listening to our neighbors, serving those in need, and asking challenging and culturally relevant questions about faith, identity, and experience. We invite you to worship with us, to learn with us, to share with us, and to join this imperfect yet authentic congregation where you belong and you are welcome.