St. James is the sixth oldest church in Philadelphia, and the first church west of the Schuykill River. There have only been 13 pastors in its 247-year history. St. James was founded by Swedish Lutheran missionaries in 1760 in Kingsessing (Indians called “Chingsessing” - a place where there is a meadow).

The church was erected in 1762. James Coultas (church member and engineer) supervised 100 workers, using local fieldstone. Women participated by collecting small stones for the pointing (Flemish pointing). The building was 40 ft. by 60 ft. on the Kings Highway (now Woodland Avenue) and had a capacity of 600 people.

The Rev. Nicholas Collin, a Swede, was called to serve the United Parish (Gloria Dei, St. James and Christ Church) from 1786 to 1831. The church in Sweden could not provide pastors or financial aid to American churches, and in 1843 the three Swedes churches became separate parishes. In 1844, the three churches were admitted to the Convention of the Diocese of Pennsylvania. Subsequently, the Diocesan Seal was changed to show three Swedish Crowns, representing the three Swedish churches. In 1854, the church building was enlarged. Transepts, the chancel and sanctuary, an organ and a bell were added.

In 1857, Dr. Charles Maison was called as Pastor and he served 36 years until retirement in 1893. In 1865, Mr. Thomas Sparks, a Swedish descendant, gave funds for a one-story school building for girls and infants. In 1893, Rev. S. Lord Gilberson was called as pastor upon the retirement of Dr. Maison. The Rev. Maison would serve for 37 years until 1930. In 1941, The Rev. James C. Gilbert was called as pastor and served for 25 years until 1966. In 1962, St. James celebrated its 200th Anniversary and on August 5 a new cornerstone was laid - a gift from the Swedish Historical Society, and in 1987 St. James celebrated the 225th Anniversary of the founding of the church.

Some local street names are named for families of St. James parishioners (Yocum, Paschal, Gesner, Bonnafon, Buist, Eastwick, Thomas, and Bartram).

St. James Church, the Sparks Building, the rectory and the cemetery occupy one city block - from 68th Street to 69th Street, and from Woodland Avenue to Paschal Avenue. The first internment was in June 1769, and the cemetery is still active. Three former pastors (Maison, Gilberson, and Gilbert) are buried here. Revolutionary War soldiers and veterans from all wars are buried here, and many interesting stories can be told of some buried here (Dr. Buchanan, Ann Gray Thomas, Charles Singles, Dr. G eorge Smith among others).

St. James, founded by Swedish Lutherans, has welcomed Anglicans and Episcopalians from many other countries, including, most recently, the Caribbean Islands and the West African nations.