It was in the days of the Great Depression that St. James was started. Beginning in 1926 a door-to-door campaign by tireless volunteers accumulated a sufficient amount of money to make a down payment on a plot of land on Mt. Auburn Street in Watertown. This land soon bore the name "Armenian Apostolic Church." Through the deep faith of these volunteers, most of whom were factory workers, the church was sustained, nurtured and flourished.

With the arrival of Rev. Matteous Manigian, the first pastor of St. James Armenian Church, the first Divine Liturgy was held in Waverly Oaks Park on Assumption Day in 1930. From then, until the church itself was built, religious services were held at the nearby East Junior School using a portable altar that was transported back and forth for each service. During these early years the Ladies Auxiliary and Junior Misses Clubs were formed. These organizations added impetus to the fundraising campaign that was being conducted. The financial difficulties of the times did not deter the community from donating contributions to assist in the project.

By the spring of 1931 all of the church's debts were paid. Archbishop Ghevont Tourian, former Primate, officiated at the ground-breaking ceremony on Saturday, August 29, 1931, with the traditional sacrifice of two lambs. The four walls of the church were erected and the first Sunday services were held on June 4, 1933. During this same year the parish began to flourish, the Sahag Mesrob Armenian Church became the responsibility of the parish, and a choir was formed. From this point on, the church and parishioners began scores of activities. In 1934, the heating system was installed and the church hall was officially opened. The first Annual Bazaar was held, the three main doors were constructed, the church floor and seats were installed, and the work continued on the church ceiling, the kitchen and the stage in the hall.

Attention was turned to nurturing the children of the parish in the Christian faith and enriching them with the beauty of the Armenian traditions. In 1935, the Sunday School was founded. Finally, years of activity, dedication, and hard work culminated in the consecration of the church on October 31, 1937. The church was consecrated with the name "St. James Armenian Church" for one of the most revered saints in the Armenian Church, St. James of Nisibis, and according to the wishes of its principal Godfather and Benefactor, Haroutune Touloukian.

During the next few years the Parish Council became more firmly established and the Parish House and rectory were purchased. On September 24, 1967 the Cultural and Youth Center was dedicated. This three level structure, adjacent to the church, is a place where parishioners and friends of St. James and the Armenian community, of all ages, gather in fellowship and to take pride in their religious and ethnic heritage. The St. James parish joined the increasing number of Armenian Churches and communities throughout the world to memorialize the 1915 Turkish Genocide of the Armenians by erecting and dedicating a monument in their memory on November 5, 1979, which stands between the Church and the Cultural and Youth Center.

The Parish has continued to grow throughout the decades with the formation of the Ladies Auxiliary (1928); the Senior Choir (1933); the ACYOA Seniors (1945); the Young Women's Guild (1948); the Men's Club (1949); the Women's Guild (1949); the ACYOA Juniors (1951); the Mr. & Mrs. Group (1969); the Cultural Committee (1970); the Junior Choir/Chorus (1995); and New Vision (2000). These are simply a few of the many organizations that have contributed to the growth and prosperity of St. James Armenian Apostolic Church. The church has three schools under its auspices: Sahag Mesrob Armenian School (est. 1931); Mesrob Mashtotz Armenian Language Classes for Adults (est. 1982); and one of the largest Sunday Schools in the Diocese (est. 1935). St. James has had the honor of welcoming the Catholicos of all Armenians on several occasions: Vazken I, of blessed memory (1960, 1968, 1987) and Karekin I, of blessed memory (1996). The parish has also served the greater Armenian Diocese in numerous capacities, including hosting several Annual Diocesan Assemblies and ACYOA General Assemblies and Sports Weekends.

St. James has grown and continues to prosper. The St. James Armenian Church family contains many faithful with diverse cultural, social, geographical and economic backgrounds, each bringing something new and exciting to the life of our parish. The parishioners of St. James Armenian Church are prepared to welcome the future standing firm in their faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, trusting in the Apostolic heritage, proud of the rich traditions and meaningful history of the Armenian Church, and committed to the continuing values of our Armenian identity.

Pastors:

Rev. Fr. Matteos Manigian 1930-1931

Rev. Fr. Bedros Vartanian 1933-1936

Rev. Fr. Yeghishe Kalchinjian 1936-1942

Rev. Fr. Matteos Hekimian 1942-1943

Right Rev. Bp. Hovsep Garabedian 1943-1949

Very Rev. Fr. Zkon Der Hagopian 1947

Rev. Fr. Shahe Altounian 1949

Rev. Fr. Torkom Postajian 1949-1954

Rev. Fr. Arten Ashjian 1955-1969

Rev. Fr. Dajad Davidian 1969-1999

Rev. Fr. Yeprem Kelegian (Asst. Pastor) 1978-1981

Rev. Fr. Arsen Barsamian (Assoc. Pastor) 1989-present

Rev. Fr. Arakel Aljalian 1999-present