Our Episcopal Identity

As an Episcopal school, Saint James introduces all of its students to the liturgical traditions of Anglican Christianity focusing on our common values of humanity, integrity, and compassion.

Worshipping alongside people of many faiths gives you constant exposure to other cultures and beliefs. You will build deep and long-lasting friendships through daily life in a community that fosters trust and mutual respect. A culture of open dialogue—where different perspectives are valued and encouraged—will allow you to develop skills of civil discourse.

Our Episcopal character is a vital complement to a broad-based liberal arts foundation and to developing a worldview that nurtures your potential to be a leader for good in the world.

In This Section

Spiritual LifeFacts & Figures

Students and faculty who gather for Chapel every weekday morning:

100 Percent

Average number of Sixth Formers who give chapel talks each year:

22

Number of students serving as Chapel leaders (Sacristans, Ushers, Senior Reader, Senior Choristers):

16

Members of the Saint James Chapel Choir:

35

The Chapel

Chapel

At the entrance to the Senior Circle, the Saint James Chapel stands as a sign of the school's commitment to holistic education. We gather as a community every weekday morning in the Chapel to begin the day reverently, gratefully, and faithfully. In Chapel, students are encouraged to participate as they feel comfortable in our common liturgy and are encouraged to challenge themselves spiritually to live moral and purposeful lives.

Chapel Services

Chapel services rely on a dedicated team of student leaders—choristers, acolytes, readers, ushers, and sacristans. The Chaplain and the Headmaster share sacramental responsibilities. Faculty members, students, and guests, frequently speak in Chapel, making it a place where the School community comes together to learn and grow.

Solemn Mass

Morning Chapel

Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday, the student body and faculty gather for about 15 minutes. This simple service consists of a hymn, a short reading, a talk or homily, and daily prayers. Talks are given either by the clergy (Fr. Montgomery or Fr. Dunnan), other faculty members, guest speakers, or 6^th formers reading a “senior essay.” Friday mornings, with the exception of periodic form meetings, we have either Contemplative Chapel — featuring student musical performances — or Holy Hit Parade, a hymn-sing.

Wednesday Chapel

Evening Chapel

Holy Week & Holiday Masses

Typically the Chapel is closed outside of term, but an exception is always made for Christmas Eve, when local students, families, and alumni often return for the festive Midnight Mass (actually at 10 p.m.), the first Eucharist of Christmas. Sometimes current students and alumni form a pickup choir, and often former acolytes and sacristans step up to serve.

Holy Week is always observed in the School calendar. Occasionally Spring Break cuts into Palm Sunday, but school is always in session for Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter Sunday.

Lessons and Carols

The service of Lessons and Carols is based on one first used at Truro Cathedral in 1880 at the instruction of Bishop Edward Benson (later Archbishop of Canterbury). The service was later adapted for use at King’s College Chapel, Cambridge University, in 1918 by the Dean, the Very Reverend Eric Milner-White, who also wrote the Bidding Prayer. At Saint James, students, faculty, staff, and parents read the lessons, while the Chapel Choir responds with a beautiful series of carols and anthems.

The readings trace the history of God’s redeeming acts: from humanity’s fall from grace, through the expectant watchfulness of the people of Israel, and finally to the birth of the Messiah. The readings reach their dramatic conclusion with the solemn proclamation of the God who became flesh and who dwells with his people.

Lessons and Carols is a venerable and popular tradition of Saint James School, usually celebrated on the third or fourth weekend of Advent. The Chapel is adorned for Christmas, and many families, alumni, and guests visit campus for this candlelit entrance into the Christmas season.

Our Headmaster

The Revd. Dr. D. Stuart Dunnan has guided Saint James as headmaster since 1992--after serving as teacher and chaplain at both school and university levels.

Born and raised in Washington, DC, Father Dunnan holds bachelor's and master's degrees in history from Harvard University and doctoral degrees in theology from Oxford University.

He is one of only a few Episcopal priests serving as the head of a secondary school in the United States.

Our Chaplain

The Revd. Dr. Brandt Montgomery has served as chaplain at Saint James since the fall of 2019. A native of Alabama, he served in campus ministry at the University of Alabama from 2012 to 2014, then as the All-School Chaplain at Ascension Episcopal School in Lafayette, Louisiana from 2014 to 2019.

Father Montgomery earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Music from the University of Montevallo, his Master of Divinity degree with honors in Church History from the General Theological Seminary, and the Doctor of Ministry degree from the University of the South at Sewanee.

Chapel Talks

Columbarium

The Saint James School

Columbarium

Saint James families have the opportunity to select their final resting place in the shadow of the chapel that has played such an important role in their lives—the chapel that connects heaven to earth, and life to death.

Learn more