Parish History

More than one hundred and sixty years old, Iglesia Episcopal de Santiago / Saint James the Apostle Episcopal Church is one of the longest established churches in the Diocese of California.

In 1858, a new church in the Diocese of California was founded by the Rev. Benjamin Akerly, Rector of Saint John’s Church in Oakland. Services for Saint James the Apostle were held at a school house until the church building was constructed on the corner of Adams and Broadway in Oakland, now the corner of International Boulevard and Seventeenth Avenue. Construction of the church was completed on September 22, 1860, with the first worship service held on November 4, 1860. St. James was Consecrated by Bishop of California William Ingraham Kip on January 20, 1861.

In 1887, part of the church building was physically moved to a new location and a new portion of the church building was built and connected to the original structure. The first service in this newly redesigned building—located at the corner of Twelfth Avenue and Foothill Boulevard where it remains to this day—was held on February 27, 1887.

Santiago / Saint James held its first Latino-Hispanic service on May 6, 1984, and continues to serve a richly diverse and welcoming congregation of all people in the city of Oakland.