St. James Episcopal Church on Glenwood Ave. in Boardman has announced “with heavy hearts that the leadership of the church has made the difficult decision to close our doors.
      “We did not come to this decision lightly, but after much prayer and discernment, we will celebrate our ministry with a final service on Sunday, February 15 at 10:00 a.m., with Bishop Anne B. Jolly presiding.”
      The closing is due to a decline in attendance and income.
      Members of St. James have been worshipping together since 1809, making it the oldest congregation in the Episcopal Diocese of Ohio.
      “This is the first episcopal church east of the Appalachians, originally founded in 1809 by people from Connecticut,” Parish Administrator Jeff Downey said. “They went for about 20 years, meeting in homes, and then a church here about 1827 and started worshiping there.”
      The congregation met for 142 years -- from 1829 to 1971 -- in what is now known as St. James’ Meeting House that was located across the street from what is now Center Intermediate School before the Glenwood Ave. building was opened in 1972.
      The original church structure now graces the Boardman-Poland Rd. entrance to Boardman Park gracing Dan Slagle Way.
      With the Glenwood Ave. closing, Downey stated that “the legacy of St. James’ will always be here in Boardman as long as the St. James’ Meeting House remains standing in Boardman Park.”