1307 North Main Street P.O. Box 416 Mount Airy, Maryland  21771  

301-829-0325

The growing number of Episcopalian families in the Mt. Airy area necessitated the construction of St. James' church in the late 1800's.  Prior to construction, those families traveled either to St. Paul's Poplar Springs or Grace Church in New Market for worship services.   

The organizing priest was the Rev. Dr. James Stephenson, rector of Grace with his rectory located in New Market.  Through the combined efforts of the families desiring a local church and the support of the entire citizenry of Mt. Airy, plans were formulated in 1887 for the construction of the building.  

The land was purchased from a Mr. Sank and the cornerstone of the new church was laid in 1888.  The brick chapel, constructed by masons from Libertytown, was completed in 1890.  The belfry was clapboard covered with wood shingles.  The green roof was partially covered with ivy.  The windows were of Gothic design.  The basement had a dirt floor with a pipe less furnace in the center of the structure.  At a later date, the floor was cemented and covered with squares of linoleum.  The front steps were added to the church in 1959.  The marble tablet in the vestibule of the church commemorating Dr. Stephenson, is an exact reproduction of the grave marker of Dr. Stephenson, who is buried on the Eastern Shore area of Maryland.  

In October 1890, Bishop Paret as a memorial to Bishop Pinkney consecrated the chapel.  Honoring the request of Bishop Paret, the parishioners named the chapel St. James' instead of Pinkney Memorial Chapel as originally planned.  Some time after completion of the church Dr. Stephenson legally incorporated the three churches, St. Paul's, St. James', and Grace as the ''Linganore Parish''.  

In 1889, a private school was instituted and conducted at the church until 1901.  A lending library operated by a member of the parish was also started at the church.  In addition to being a house of worship, the church became a center of various services to the community.  

The Rectors who followed the Rev. Dr. James Stephenson are as follows:

• The Rev. David May from 1892 - 1906

• The Rev. Eugene Pierce from 1907 - 1909

• The Rev. H. R. Saunders from 1910 - 1912

• The Rev. P. M. Boyden from 1913 - 1925

• The Rev. Wilbur Wheeler from 1925 - 1926

• The Rev. W. E. Glaxville from 1927 - 1932

• The Rev. Leon P. F. Vautheir from 1933 - 1956

• The Rev. Victor Ross* from 1953 - 1958

• The Rev. Herman diBrandi from 1959 - 1961

• The Rev. Robert Pegram from 1961 - 1970

• The Rev. Wm. Workman from 1970 - 1973

• The Rev. John Sivley from 1973 - 1981

• The Rev. Charles Beamer from 1982 - 1988

• The Rev. Robert Herzog from 1989 -1999

• The Rev. Portia Hirschman from 2002 - present

*Rev. Ross served as deacon in 1953, Priest Associate in 1954 and as Rector in 1956 with the Rev. Vautheir as Rector Emeritus.

During the ministry of the Rev. Leon P. F. Vautheir in 1945, the Church (Sunday) School program at St. James' was instituted.  After the beginning of the Church School, cabinets were installed in the undercroft and water was brought into the church.

In 1953, the Rev. Victor Ross was called as Assistant Rector to the Rev. Vautheir, who was still serving five churches.  Since Rev. Vautheir occupied the rectory in New Market, a house was rented for the Ross family until a permanent residence was purchased on North Main Street, in Mt. Airy.  After the arrival of Father Ross, regular Sunday services were held at St. James'.  In 1956, a three quarter acre parcel of land was given to the church to be used as a parking lot.  Later in 1958, another parcel was given to expand the parking lot.  Both parcels were gifts from non-members of the church. 

St. James' remained a mission until 1960.  Under the ministry of the Rev. Herman diBrandi the vestries of St. Pauls' Poplar Springs and St. James' decided to yoke since the same Rector served both churches. The name ''Parish of the Holy Apostles'' to be managed by one vestry was chosen.  The vestry consisted of the minister and eight laymen.  It was at this time the Linganore Parish was dissolved.

During the ministry of the Rev. Robert Pegram, who owned a home near Mt. Airy, the rectory was sold and the money invested until a new rectory would be needed.  A new rectory was purchased with the arrival of the Rev. John H. Sivley.

During the ministry of Fr. Sivley, the building across the parking lot was purchased for use as a parish house.  Under Fr. Sivley's direction the parish prospered and grew.  In 1981 the vestry voted to separate the yoked churches into independent parishes.  Prior to the September 1981 separation, Fr. Sivley went home to be with our Lord.

Upon the arrival of Father Beamer in 1982, plans already underway for a 2,000 sq. ft. expansion of the church building were completed.  The new addition (called the Ed Wing) currently houses the majority of the Church School classes and the expanded St. James' Nursery School.  The addition also serves as the focal point for church fellowship gatherings and community activities.  Fr. Beamer was instrumental in bringing St. James' from a mission status to a parish status.

In 1989, the Rev. Robert Herzog arrived.  During the ministry of Fr. Herzog, he became very active in the Mt. Airy Ministerium and also co-founded the Mt. Airy NET.  Mt. Airy NET is a non-profit organization dedicated to help the less fortunate in our area.  They provide food and clothing donated from our St. James' Thrift Shop.  The people in charge of Mt. Airy NET are volunteers that can provide a referral service to guide people to Social Services, Legal Aide, etc. when the situation is warranted.  The Mt. Airy NET is sponsored by all area churches and is currently housed in an office in our Thrift Shop on Main Street.

During Fr. Herzog's tenure, the congregation purchased twelve acres for future growth.  Since Fr. Herzog and his family owned their home in the Mt. Airy area, the rectory was rented and later sold in the summer of 1998.  After a ten-year ministry to the people of St. James', Fr. Herzog retired in June 1999. 

While the late 1990's were marked by a stagnation in membership and pledge growth, the arrival of an Interim Rector in August 1999 corresponded to an increase in worship attendance and a 28% increase in General Fund Pledges for the year 2000.  As another sign of the parish's recent growth, St. James' had eleven confirmands, one reception and one reaffirmation at the regional confirmation service in April 2000. 

Our life together has one goal:  to know Jesus Christ as Lord and to make him known to the world.  We seek to do this by celebrating God's active presence in our midst and looking for ways to participate in God's work already begun by our Lord.  We welcome you to St. James' and pray that God's love will surround us all as we do our best to become more nearly Christ's body in the world.