St. James Episcopal Church and School invite the community to a historic service Sunday, June 8, 2025
860 North Section Street, just north of downtown Fairhope, Alabama.
Expansion Plans
Expanding facilities on the existing 11 acre campus, St. James Episcopal Church and School will be adding a new multipurpose building, covered drop-off and pick-up area, and a new school entrance to their footprint.
The new multipurpose building will feature a stage, athletic courts for volleyball, basketball and pickleball, as well as gathering space for meals and programs accommodating more than 200 people.
According to the capital campaign literature: “This multipurpose space will be a draw for wider community events and activities.”
New Entrance
A new additional entrance off Section Street will connect to an existing parking meadow. It will also serve as the construction entrance and exit.
Once complete, the new entrance will provide access to the covered driveway area of the multipurpose building and school.
New parking spaces will be available in front of the building which will replace a wooded area and storage shed.
Access & Visibility
According to St. James Episcopal capital campaign literature:
“We have long outgrown the capacity of our driveway on Section Street. With the City’s impending construction of a roundabout at Section and Triangle Drive, our need for an additional driveway is a priority in order to better manage traffic flow and safety.”
A new additional entrance off Section Street will connect to an existing parking meadow. It will also serve as the construction entrance and exit.
Once complete, the new entrance will provide access to the covered driveway area of the multipurpose building and school.
New parking spaces will be available in front of the building which will replace a wooded area and storage shed.
Church History
The St. James Episcopal congregation was founded in Fairhope in 1918 by Mr. and Mrs. John P. Lowell and Dr. and Mrs. R. A. Quarles, former members of St. James Church in St. Louis, Missouri.
Originally gathering in the Lowell’s home on Monday evenings, with services led by Rev. Louis Tucker, Rector of Christ Church in Mobile, who traveled to Fairhope by bayboat, the group purchased and renovated a former Baptist church facility circa 1920. After receiving parish status in 1949, the group enjoyed their first service in a newly built facility on Thanksgiving Day in 1957, and again at their current location on Easter Sunday, 1994.
“The church continues to grow, averaging over 400 worshipers at two services on Sunday mornings, with a third service added in September of 2017.”
Learn more about the history of Fairhope’s St. James Episcopal Church here.
St. James Episcopal School
St. James welcomed 13 preschoolers in 2018, and within five years, enrollment had grown to 100 students. Needing to expand their capacity, a plan is in place for additional classrooms and administrative offices to serve Pre-K through 6th grade which will also serve as space for growing youth programs.
Capital Campaign
The capital campaign, “Growing Faithfully,” kicked off on June 9th, 2024 and is ongoing.
Architect & Management
WAV Architects of Fairhope, and Witherington Construction of Daphne.
For more information, contact St. James Episcopal Church
Images and content above sourced from St. James Episcopal Church.
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