ABOUT US
Discover Our Story
Learn about who we are and what we believe.
OUR STORY
Rooted For Centuries
Nestled along the tidal creeks of James Island, St. James Episcopal Church has been a place of Christian worship and community for over three hundred years. Originally established as a “chapel of ease” for Old St. Andrew’s in West Ashley, St. James became a standalone congregation in the 1800’s and has been the only Episcopal Church on the island since.
In 2013, the campus and most of the congregation were taken out of The Episcopal Church during a denominational schism, but returned in 2023. Now St. James is experiencing a new season of growth and renewal as the revitalized Episcopal Church on James Island, where we welcome everyone into a life of faith and celebrating the dignity of every human person.
No matter where you are on your journey of faith, you are welcome here! Come join us as we learn to walk the Way of a loving, liberating, life-giving God.
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Our congregation was officially founded in 1720 under the leadership of The Rev. William Guy, who served as rector of Old St. Andrew’s in West Ashley. Rev. Guy would row his boat down the Ashley River, taking a two day journey by water and foot to conduct services once a month for the planters of James Island.
In a 1722 report to The Society for the Propagation of the Gospel (SPG), the Church of England’s missionary wing, Rev. Guy mentioned plans for building a chapel which was completed around 1722. Sadly, it was destroyed by a hurricane just a few years later and a second chapel was built.
James Island was remote in those early years, and the parish went into disuse several times. The first time was during the American Revolution, when the church went without a priest for nearly fourteen years.
At some point the second chapel was taken down and the third chapel was completed in 1787. When the Diocese of South Carolina was established after the American Revolution, Saint James officially became Saint James Episcopal Church.
In 1862, services were discontinued because of the Civil War. The third church was destroyed by a fire in 1864 that was accidentally set by confederate soldiers, and services were held in the Presbyterian church after everyone returned.
From 1864 to 1899, few services were held on James Island but a fourth chapel was built. In 1898 Saint James was organized as a mission of The Diocese of South Carolina and played an important role in providing farming jobs to many unemployed members of the community during Reconstruction. A fifth chapel was built that expanded the fourth.
In 1946, the Rev. Edward Brailsford Guerry (1946-1960) held regular weekly services for the first time since 1861. He built both a parish house in 1949 and a bigger new church in 1959 (completed in 1960 and consecrated in 1964). Both these buildings still stand today. The current church was designed by Albert Simons (1890-1980), a well known architect and preservationist in Charleston.
In 1968, the congregation grew significantly under the Rev. Charles Duvall (1962-1971), requiring the parish house to be expanded in order to add Sunday school and office space. Years later, the Sunday school building would become a day school.
In 2013, The Diocese of South Carolina experienced a denominational schism when the bishop and many clergy elected to take their congregations out of The Episcopal Church. This came after years of having a fractured relationship with the national church and concerns about evolving views on human sexuality.
After nearly a decade of court decisions, Saint James was ultimately returned to The Episcopal Church and to the Episcopal Diocese of South Carolina in 2022, where it had been rooted for centuries.
As we continue to write the next chapters in the story of the Episcopal Church on James Island, we seek to create a welcoming space for all people to come and worship the Lord and serve Him and our community.
Like all things, we are a work in progress—but we fix our eyes on the beloved Kingdom, knowing that God has equipped us for the journey. Wherever you are on your journey and whatever your story is, you are welcome here.
OUR BELIEFS
What We Believe
Our desire is to live out our faith authentically and invite others into the life-changing love of Christ.
THE BIBLE
We believe the Bible is the inspired word of God and contains everything necessary for salvation, inviting us into a life-giving relationship with God and one another.
jesus christ
We believe Jesus is the Son of God, the hope of the world, and the source of salvation for the whole human family, inviting us to walk in his footsteps.
THE CHURCH
We believe the church is called to be the hands and feet of Jesus, serving and loving others in his name as we help build his beloved Kingdom on earth.
AUTHENTIC FAITH
We believe faith is meant to be lived out daily—with integrity, compassion, and love. We don’t put limits on God’s grace and welcome everyone.
OUR MISSION & VALUES
Why We Exist
Our mission is to be a place of rest and renewal for the people of God—wherever they are on their spiritual journey. We may not have it all figured out, but we know that following the teachings of Jesus leads to abundant life. We trust in the Spirit to guide us.
WORSHIP — Giving thanks and praise to God.
COMMUNITY — Walking together in love and grace.
SERVICE — Reaching beyond ourselves to care for our community.
GROWTH — Cultivating spiritual and personal transformation.
WHAT TO EXPECT
Your First Visit
When you walk through our doors, you’ll find a beautiful sanctuary full of friendly faces and a place to belong. Our services are rooted in traditional worship, thoughtful sermons, and beautiful music.
✝︎ Traditional worship and thoughtful preaching
✝︎ welcoming community with friendly faces
✝︎ Beautiful music with Choir & Organ
✝︎ No strict dress code — show up as you are!
MEET OUR RECTOR
THE REV. WILL BERRY
Fr. Will shepherds our congregation with compassion, conviction, and a deep sense of call. He sees incredible potential in the St. James and is helping usher us into a new season of growth and renewal as the revitalized Episcopal Church on James Island.
Will + lives just across the bridge on John’s Island with his wife Caitlin, their son Thomas, and their two cats Hairy and Rooster. His previous calls include the Associate Rector for Families & Formation at St. Stephen’s, Charleston, Priest-in-Charge of the Church of the Resurrection in Nicholasville, KY, and Associate Rector for Young Adult & Families at Christ Church Cathedral in Lexington.
Before he became a priest, Fr. Will worked in campus ministry in the Diocese of North Carolina and worked in the local music community in Greensboro. He was raised United Methodist and spent time among the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) in college, but joined The Episcopal Church shortly after he graduated.
When he’s not at work or with his family, Will+ is usually by the water somewhere or reading a good book. Even though he’s originally from the Northeast, he has a deep love for the Carolinas and is proud to call the low country home.
You can email Fr. Will @ willberry@saintjamesji.org.
OUR LEADERSHIP TEAM
STEADY HEARTS & HANDS
At St. James, leadership is about serving with humility and care. Our staff helps faith grow, community thrive, and church feel like family as we worship God and love our neighbor as ourselves.
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Georgie Skover
PARISH ADMINISTRATOR
Georgie oversees the operations and management of St. James and its various ministries. She’s an integral part of the staff and keeps things running smoothly and effectively. She serves in many capacities, but does so with grace and grit. She is the glue that holds things together.
Away from her role on staff, Georgie's life is enriched by her two children and four grandchildren, who are her greatest joys. A lover of literature, she delves into reading, studying, and researching inspiring ideas. Georgie also expresses her spirituality through writing prayers and poems and extends her guidance as a Spiritual Life Coach in her spare moments. Her faith grounds her life.
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Dr. David Friddle
MUSIC DIRECTOR
David is our organist and choir master, enlivening our worship services with beautiful and impactful music. His broad background and expertise are an asset to the staff, as is his talent. David is always broadening St, James musical capabilities and pushes our choristers towards excellence. He is passionate and driven.
Among David’s accomplishments are two doctorates in music: one from Juliard in Organ Music and one from the University of Miami in Choral Conducting. He has had articles featured in reputable journals such as Choral Journal, American Choral Review, and The American Organist. He’s conducted choirs in several states and in Europe.
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Steve Johnston
SENIOR WARDEN/VERGER
Steve serves as our Senior Warden and Verger. He has worn many hats since St. James reopened and his steadfast leadership has been absolutely essential. If you have a liturgy question, Steve is your guy, and he not only trains acolytes but writes our weekly Prayers of the People.
A native of Beaufort and long-time resident of James Island, Steve has deep roots in SC. Together with Carol, his wife of 13 years, they enjoy family life with their three daughters, one son, and five grandchildren. Travel is a shared passion, with journeys spanning six continents and over 40 countries. They love to take the boat out and enjoy the Lowcountry. He also likes to get in some golf when he has the time!
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Mike Barker
JUNIOR WARDEN
Mike quite literally keeps our campus from falling apart. He leads with a servant’s heart and joyful presence that has been a profound gift to the community. He has been an essential partner as St. James has grown into its new season of ministry, managing many projects and offering insight.
A proud father and grandfather, Mike and his wife Pat deeply value and enjoy their family life and role as grandparents. They also love to travel and see different states and countries. Mike plays golf weekly at the Municipal Course on James Island and likes to take as many pictures as he does swings. He’s a gifted photographer and loves taking pictures of nature, places, and people.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Get to Know Us Better
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St. James is a community built on faith, friendship, and service. Our vision is to be a place where people can encounter God’s love and grow in meaningful relationships with their Creator and their community.
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We believe in a loving, liberating, life-giving God who transforms the world. We believe the teachings of Jesus are meant to be followed and that God’s love is meant to be shared with all people.
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We believe faith is meant to be lived out in service to others. One of the main ways we serve our community is through our partnership with James Island Outreach, whose building is on our campus and which serves as a food pantry and resource center. Several of our parishioners are also involved in other service projects, including tutoring elementary students and serving at the local senior center. St. James also frequently takes up offerings for various ministries and causes.
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The Episcopal Church is part of the worldwide Anglican Communion and has its roots in the Church of England. In the United States, it’s one of the “seven sisters” of the Mainline Protestant Church, but is often considered a “middle way” between Protestantism and Catholicism—integrating both into faith and practice.
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St. James is guided by our rector, staff, and volunteers who serve in many areas of ministry. It is also guided by our vestry, an elected body of lay leaders who work in partnership with the rector and staff. St James is also part of The Episcopal Diocese of South Carolina which is led by Bishop Ruth Woodliff-Stanley.
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Absolutely not! We welcome people from all religious backgrounds or none at all. Some of us have been Episcopalians all are lives while others have only just joined.
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In the Episcopal Church, any baptized Christian—regardless of denomination—may participate in communion. Non-Christians and people who are unbaptized are still invited to the altar to receive a blessing by crossing their arms across their chest. Baptism is open to all who seek it, but only if someone has not been previously baptized. We can assure you, it works the first time!
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Absolutely. Our campus is a wonderful place to have weddings and you don’t have to be a member of the congregation. For more information, visit saintjamesji.org/weddings
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Yes! We have a wonderful nursery that is available during our 10 AM service. It’s located in the St James Center to the left of the main sanctuary.
Got another question? We’d love to help. Contact us anytime.
ROOTED IN FAITH, GROWING IN CHRIST.
Be Part of Our Story
St. James is more than a place—it’s a community with a mission. Everything we do is part of something bigger, and we’d love for you to be part of our story.