James Church on Main Street in Great Barrington, faced demolition. In 2008, a portion of the rear wall of the historic Gothic Revival stone church had unexpectedly collapsed, forcing the Town Building Inspector to condemn the building and the congregation to temporarily relocate. After a period of discernment the vestry and the congregation decided not to repair or reuse the church and sought a re
al estate appraisal. The findings of the appraisal recommended that, “The highest and best use of the subject property is as a vacant parcel of land that is available for development.”
Concerned that this prominent local landmark would be destroyed, residents Sally and Fred Harris formed a secular, non-profit, Saint James Place, whose mission was to rescue and repurpose the church and adjacent parish hall. SJP reopened as a performing arts and cultural venue in spring 2016. With 17,000 square feet of office, rehearsal, performance and reception spaces, SJP is a dynamic cultural hub in the heart of downtown Great Barrington. SJP is a year-round resource for local artistic and civic organizations, and is proud to be the permanent home of the Peoples Pantry.
