Capital Campaign
RESTORE. REIMAGINE. REBUILD.
St. James Cathedral Chicago, founded as St. James Church in 1834, is a vibrant and growing Episcopal community housed in an historic building. It became the cathedral for the Diocese of Chicago in 1955. Throughout our history we have adapted to meet the needs of a changing congregation, changing neighborhood, and changing world.
We are a Christian community committed to sharing the Good News, fueled by our passion for inspiring liturgy and music, faith formation, building a diverse and multigenerational congregation, and reaching out to our neighbors in need. Every year we provide 10,000 meals to people who are food insecure, organize a summer arts and adventure camp for children from across the city, and raise significant financial support for other outreach organizations.
Beloved by members and visitors alike, our building hosts five hundred events every year, from church services and diocesan events to concerts, conferences, and tours. Our congregation has grown 60% in the past six years, adding more programs and ministries.
Now the building needs a complete exterior renovation, evidenced by the conspicuous nets and steel straps applied to the façade over the past five years. As we approach our third century, we face the challenge of ensuring the building can sustain our ministries and growth, and our most immediate priorities are to restore the cathedral’s stone exterior, replace the roof, restore the chapel and narthex, and commission a new organ to replace a failing instrument.
$19 MILLION GOAL
St. James Cathedral is embarking on a campaign to raise $19 million in cash and pledges to undertake these first critical tasks. Additional fundraising will take place for other elements in further phases. Our Restore, Reimagine, Rebuild Campaign will build us an enduring house to serve the needs of our congregation through the rest of the 21st century.