Restoring Saint James to its Former Glory!

Saint James Historical Significance

St. James Church, located on Detroit Avenue, is renowned for its architectural beauty, inspired by the 12th-century Monreale Cathedral in Sicily. Construction took 10 years, showcasing intricate iconography, stunning gold leaf artwork, and pillars made from 2,000-year-old Porta Santa marble quarried in Greece. The church’s Romanesque style and grandeur make it a standout in the community.

The parish was founded in 1908 by Rev. Michael D. Leahy, following a directive from Bishop Ignatius F. Horstman to establish a new parish in Lakewood. After Bishop Horstman’s death, the diocese officially appointed Fr. Leahy as pastor, and the first Mass was held on July 5, 1908, in a temporary space at the O’Donnell Block. As the congregation grew, additional Masses were celebrated at Miller Hall.

In 1912, the parish acquired land at the corner of Granger and Detroit, and by 1913, construction on a permanent church building had begun, with the first phase completed in October 1913. The church was formally dedicated on November 8, 1914, by Bishop John Farrelly, who addressed the congregation, emphasizing the church as a spiritual home for life’s key moments.

By 1920, the parish had grown to over 4,200 parishioners and 517 students enrolled in its school. The rapid expansion of the Catholic community led to the creation of three additional parishes: Saint Luke, Saint Clement, and Saint Christopher. Despite these divisions, St. James continued to thrive. In 1925, under Fr. Leahy’s leadership, construction of the current Sicilian Romanesque-style church began, modeled after the Monreale Cathedral in Palermo, Sicily. The completed church was dedicated on May 21, 1935, with Bishop Joseph Schrembs presiding. Following Fr. Leahy’s death in 1941, Msgr. Daniel Gallagher was appointed pastor, completing the beautiful interior artwork and overseeing further growth, including converting the lower church into classrooms and building a new convent for the Sisters of the Holy Humility.

Msgr. Gallagher, beloved for his humor and leadership, became Pastor Emeritus in 1969 due to health issues. He was succeeded by Rev. Edward Murphy and then Rev. William Andrews, who served until 1985. Rev. John Weigand became the parish’s fifth pastor, leading until his retirement in 2010.

In 2007, Bishop Richard Lennon initiated a diocesan-wide consolidation due to declining population, fewer clergy, and financial challenges. Despite strong opposition, in March 2009, St. James Parish was selected for closure. The decision shocked and angered parishioners, who formed Save Saint James (later Friends of Saint James, Inc.) to appeal the closure. Although these efforts were unsuccessful initially, Bishop Lennon held the formal closing Mass on June 26, 2010. The next day, Fr. Weigand locked the church’s doors after the final Mass, leaving the community grieving the loss of their spiritual home.

Before the church could be dismantled, the community successfully petitioned to have St. James designated as a historical landmark, and it became the first structure in Lakewood to receive both interior and exterior Historic Preservation Designation. This victory preserved the church, hall, rectory, and garage as part of the St. James the Greater Roman Catholic Church Historic District. Meanwhile, the Vatican upheld an appeal against the closure, citing both substantive and procedural errors in the diocese’s decision.

On March 7, 2012, the Congregation for the Clergy ruled in favor of St. James and 10 other churches in the Diocese of Cleveland, an unprecedented decision that allowed for the reopening of these parishes. Bishop Lennon chose not to contest the ruling, and St. James was re-established under the leadership of Rev. Joseph G. Workman on July 23, 2012. However, before the closure, over $700,000 in pledges were taken for the repair of the roof and the interior of the church, which went uncollected because of the Bishop’s decision to close the doors. After the church was closed, parishioners also found other churches to go to and lost many church members.

But the community remained hopeful and on July 25, 2012, the Feast of Saint James the Greater, the church reopened its doors with a celebratory Mass. New and old parishioners gathered to mark the beginning of a new chapter for the historic St. James Church, continuing its legacy as a place of faith, community, and resilience.