History
History of The Community of St. James, 1846 – Present
A Neighborhood Rising
1846: An idyllic English countryside church, the Historic Church of St. James the Less, opens in the lush “Falls of the Schuylkill” neighborhood (now called Allegheny West.)
An Industrial Hub
1950s and 60’s: Allegheny West becomes a major industrial hub in Philadelphia, with businesses like Pep Boys, The Bud Company, and Penn Fishing Reels creating thousands of jobs in the neighborhood.
An Uncertain Future
1970 – 2000: As companies fail and jobs are lost, an uncertain future unfolds for what was once a thriving economic hub. Driven by job losses and racial tension, thousands of mostly white residents abandon the neighborhood and move to the suburbs. No other neighborhood in the city of Philadelphia experiences such a severe loss of population during this time.
Property Abandoned
2006: The St. James the Less congregation leaves the Episcopal church, and the property is left vacant. With its gates now locked, the 6-acre campus becomes what neighbors call “the darkest spot of the neighborhood.”
The Future Begins to Brighten
2008: The Vestry and people of Saint Mark’s Church (Locust Street) adopts the vacant property, intending to make it a resource for the neighborhood and perhaps – some day – start a school in the parish hall.
The Vision Takes Shape
2009 – 2010: Two visionary and tenacious co-founders, the The Rev. Sean Mullen and parishioner Dr. Audrey Evans, get to work, dreaming big of how the property can be used. They talk to neighbors and families and conduct an extensive feasibility study. They quickly learn Allegheny West is in need of a high-quality neighborhood school. They set plans in motion to open a tuition-free Episcopal school – the only one of its kind in Philadelphia
They recruit Dave Kasievich to serve as the founding Executive Director, and begin raising funds. The three work to enlist advisors and board members and choose the NativityMiguel faith-based school model.
City Camp at St. James
2010: Andrew Kellner, The Rev. Sean Mullen, and many volunteers from Saint Mark’s Church (Locust Street) found City Camp, a summer camp for neighborhood children.
After School at St. James
2010: William Penn Charter School partners to open an after school program for rising 3rd, 4th and 5th grade children for the soon-to-be-opened St. James School.
St. James School Opens Its Doors
2011: After a year of operating programming for the neighborhood, raising funds, and recruiting school leaders and students, we opened the doors to St. James School for the first time! In our first year we served 16 5th graders.
Growing to a Full Middle School
2011 – 2015: We added a grade each year, growing to serve 69 students in grades 5-8. We continued to expand and improve our robust programming each year: adding instrumental education, an off-campus summer camp experience, a full-time chef, and more.
Graduate Support Creation
2013: We founded the Graduate Support program to ensure the long-term success of every St. James School graduate.
Graduating to the Next Chapter
2015: After four years of challenging academics in a nurturing, faith-based school community, our founding class graduated from middle school to attend high schools including Hallahan Catholic High School, Cristo Rey Philadelphia High School, and William Penn Charter School.
Renewal of the Church
2016: After being shuttered in 2006, the future of the Church of St. James the Less was uncertain. Since St. James School opened in 2011, neighbors and school families had been asking whether Sunday worship might one day return. The Rev. Andrew Kellner was hired as School Chaplain to restore Sunday Mass and breathe new life into the church as a spiritual home for the community.
Growing Down to 4th Grade
2018: We added a 4th grade at St. James School, giving us the opportunity to engage students and families at an earlier age, and better prepare students for success in high school and beyond.
High School Graduation
2019: Our inaugural class graduated from high school, marking a major milestone for St. James School and Graduate Support.
Formation of The Welcome Table
2019: From our earliest days, St. James has embraced the fact that supporting students includes caring for the well-being of their families. When the COVID pandemic exposed deep food insecurity among school families, neighbors, and especially seniors, we added a food-sharing ministry. Community members shared what they had so others could have what they needed. Inspired by the spiritual hymn “The Welcome Table,” this grassroots effort has evolved into a resource hub offering adult education, legal services, wellness support, and pathways to greater stability and opportunity.
College Graduation
2023: The first St. James graduates to earn bachelor’s degrees walked across stages at colleges and universities including Cabrini University and Howard University.
Opening of the Upper School Building
2023: Expanding grades and programming had pushed the limits of our school building’s capacity. We needed more accessible and welcoming spaces for students, graduates, families, and staff. By opening a new Upper School Building, we created a vibrant new hub for learning and connection.
Continued Growth and Expansion
2026: Having acquired the former Royal Electric Supply Co. property adjacent to our campus in 2024, we renovated parts of the warehouse building and moved our Administrative Team and The Welcome Table into new homes there. This timely acquisition paved the way for future growth of the Community of St. James.
