This is the final column in an occasional series about St. James Episcopal Church of New London, which will celebrate its 300th anniversary in 2025.

In the 1840s, St. James Episcopal Church had a problem, but it was a nice kind of problem to have. The church was flourishing, the congregation was growing, and the current sanctuary was bursting at the seams. They needed a new building.

The church had come a long way since its founding as a society of believers in 1725. Raising funds had been a challenge, and it wasn’t until 1732 that the first church building went up on the Parade. During the Revolutionary War, Benedict Arnold’s men burned it to the ground; afterwards, distraught parishioners sifted through the rubble searching desperately for anything of value to salvage. All they recovered were a bunch of twisted nails.

Faith and fortitude prevailed, however, and by 1787, a new house of worship stood near the site of today’s Salvation Army headquarters. America’s first Episcopal bishop, Samuel Seabury, presided at its consecration.

Now in the mid-19th century, with the whaling industry bringing wealth and an influx of newcomers to New London, the opportunity to build a third, larger, more elegant church was at hand. The result was, and is, magnificent.

The architect chosen for the project was Richard Upjohn, who a few years earlier had designed Trinity Church in Manhattan. Upjohn was co-founder of the American Institute of Architects and, over the course of a prolific career, designed dozens of churches, chapels and cathedrals all over the United States. Calvary Episcopal Church in Stonington Burough is another local example of his work.

Upjohn started the Gothic Revival movement in America, but the style sometimes provoked controversy because it was so different from traditional New England churches. The design of one of his churches in Maine prompted a Boston newspaper to ask in dismay what in the world those down-easters were thinking. The style of St. James’ roof elicited similar criticism from a New York theological society, who said its braces looked “Moorish.” New Londoners thought differently.

The completed building on Federal Street was consecrated in 1850.

(Side note: The First Congregational Church of New London was also built in 1850, but a year later, its architect, Leopold Eidlitz, was so worried about the steeple’s construction that he urged it be taken down and rebuilt by a better contractor. In coming to this conclusion, Eidlitz consulted with Upjohn, who concurred. Tragically, last January, the steeple did collapse, destroying the church with it.)

Although St. James was now complete, over the years there would be enhancements. Starting in 1910, some of the original windows by stained-glass maker Henry E. Sharp were replaced with windows by the Louis Comfort Tiffany studio. There are six Tiffany windows in total, and they are breathtaking. One of the windows, “The Holy Family,” was donated in memory of Lyman Allyn, wealthy shipping merchant, banker and railroad man. The Lyman Allyn Art Museum has an extensive collection of Tiffany glass.

In 1922, St. James installed the Mansfield Memorial Window, commemorating the death of two teenaged aviators who lost their lives in World War I. One of the young men was George Gibbs Mansfield, son of acclaimed actor Richard Mansfield, who made his summer home in New London. J&R Lamb, the oldest continuous operating stained-glass company in America, created this window, also known as the Aviation Window. In 1962, another stained-glass window was added, this one depicting events in the life of Samuel Seabury, including his consecration as bishop.

Music is an essential part of worship services. St. James’ impressive pipe organ was built by Ernest Skinner and installed in 1913; railroad magnate and local philanthropist Morton Plant donated the money for its purchase. (The organ has been modified several times and now features a mobile console.) Skinner was a leader in his field, standardizing the size and placement of organ components and creating numerous other technical innovations. Churches from the East Coast to California bought Skinner organs; his last one was built for the Washington National Cathedral.

Taken together, architecture, art and music make this an awe-inspiring place. But as beautiful as the church is, its deeper beauty lies in the faith of the people who built it from humble beginnings, overcoming financial challenges, arson and the hardships brought by war. Each chapter in its long history is a testament to faith, resilience and the loving community outreach it offers every day.

This month St. James kicks off the celebration of its founding in 1725. Happy anniversary, beloved New London landmark!