St. James Church, Elmhurst, Queens
Founded in 1761 out of the 1704 mission in nearby Jamaica. Two blocks away is the original church building which was erected in 1735-36 and is now designated a city landmark. It is the oldest surviving Church of England structure in the city.
St. James Episcopal Church is a historic Church finding new life in the 21st century. It was established in 1704 in "Newtown" by the Rev. William Urquhart, a Church of England clergyman who was also rector of the first Churches in Jamaica and Flushing.
PROJECT DETAILS
After an exploration of parish records, the Rev. Paul Lai (Rector) and I discovered sufficient early records for research. In November I visited to preach and explain the project; several volunteers lingered to learn about first steps for getting to work. There’s great energy here!