History

St James was founded in Southern Ontario. between 1830 and 1850.  The parishoners would meet in many different places, from homes, barns and fields.  The services were led by lay ministers.  In 1851 Rev. C.H. Thomsen came to Phillipsburg from New York.  He was the first pastor at St Jacob’s Church in Baden.

The Church was built in 1862 on land purchased from Jacob Beck, Sir Adam Beck’s father.  The cemetery was purchased from James Livingston in 1891 and the parsonage was built on land donated by James Livingston.

The church has been part of many historical events including turning on public hydro in 1911.  In 1939 St Jacob’s Church became St James Lutheran Church.

Over the subsequent years St James has changed in many ways, addition of a basement and narthex in 1953, renovations in 2000 and restoration of the original steeple in 2007.

St James has grown and changed to become the church it is today.