Historic St. James' is located in the "mother lode" area of the gold rush days of early California. It was founded in December of 1859. Sonora, like other mining communities in the "mother lode," experienced a rough and rugged period in the ear]y mining days. In 1859, a group of loyal churchmen, who had remained in Tuolumne County after the boom days of the gold rush had ended, discussed the possibility of having a church of their own. Three men - Cabel Dorsey, Abner Pitts, and Frederick Salter - comprised the committee that started the move towards building a church in Sonora.

They began by drafting a letter to Bishop Nip in San Francisco outlining their plan. In a short time Bishop Kip was able to assign a man who was capable of filling the position, the Rev. John C. Gassman, a native of Norway, who arrived in Sonora on December 17, 1859. He was enthusiastic about the challenge and had considerable skill as a builder, and his ideas for the plan and architecture of the church were useful in the construction.

The church was built over the abandoned workings of the Bonanza Mine, one of the richest pocket mines in California. The first service was held in the new church building on October 4, 1860, and it was consecrated in November 1870 by Bishop Kip.

In 1868 the west side of the building was damaged by fire when the United States Hotel across the street burned. This necessitated extensive repairs to the church. In 1949 the building was again carefully renovated and modernized. Further renovation was done in 1970 and 1973.

Since 1860, St. James' Episcopal Church has occupied its position on Washington Street, overlooking Sonora's business district. It is a testimony to the faith and consecration of those who planned and built it; and to the loyalty of those who have maintained it. But above all it is a symbol of the changelessness of Almighty God and of the fact that men do feel that they must worship Him; the same yesterday, today and forever.

(Taken in part from an article by Mr. John Germain, The Tuolumne County Historical Society Quarterly)

St. James' has had twenty-eight Rectors, Deacons and an Assisting Priest from its beginning. At the time of Bishop Rivera's accession to the episcopate the Rev. Galen Onstad was the Rector. He retired in 1971 and was succeeded by the Rev. Ronald Swanson who, at the time of his call, was a Canon on the staff of St. James' Cathedral, Fresno. During Swanson's tenure mission congregations were begun in Sonora, St. Michael's, established in February 1983, and Groveland, Grace Church Mission, in February 1985. The Rev. Ronald Swanson resigned in 1987 and at the time of this writing the congregation is being served by the Rev. Dr. William F. Craig, former Director of St. Francis' Home For Boys.

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