The new church was completed in 1885 and since that time, Old St. James’ has been used primarily for Sunday School classes and special services. It also proved a significant convenience when major renovations were made to the new church in 1909, and again in 1920 when the furnace at new St. James’ ceased to function.

Over the years a number of important changes were made to the small wooden structure which was built on a foundation of Island sandstone. A delightful addition was the installation of stained glass to the East window in 1866. Its remarkable clarity and beauty render it one of the outstanding features of the "Old Shipbuilders’ Church".

In 1890 the spire was taken down and consequently, the bell removed. According to information provided by Laurie Birch, a life long member of St. James’, the bell was stored at the home of Senator John Yeo for several years. It was procured from storage by Sydney Birch and Joseph Veale who together affixed it to an axle and two wheels for local charivari celebrations. In 1988 the original bell was returned to Old St. James’ where it was mounted outside the entrance to the church. This was made possible by Mrs. Eileen Morris who came into its possession and wished to see it returned to the church.

John Yeo, who was the church’s treasurer in 1902, reported on March 315t of that year that the task of papering the walls had been completed:

The inside of the church has been papered and much improved in appearance.

The cost of the material was paid by the Guild and the tedious and laborious job

of putting on the paper was done almost entirely by the Church wardens Messrs.

Monkley and Birch.

This was undoubtedly the last time the church was papered since the interior was sheathed during the First World War. At that time also, the balcony which extended across the west wall was removed.

With the installation of electrical wiring in 1981, Old St. James’ achieved modernity. This improvement was the generous gift of faithful supporters, Laurie and Jeanette Birch. Taken from storage and equipped with wiring, the beautiful original oil lamps now render even more light for the congregation.

At one time the little church contained a well-stocked library from which both young and

old derived much pleasure. Parish records as early as 1896 show amounts of $1.15, $ .88, and

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