St. James Cathedral

What St. James Cathedral does

St. James Cathedral is a 501(c)(3) Episcopal cathedral and parish in downtown Chicago, founded in 1834 and rebuilt in 1875 after the Great Chicago Fire. It serves as the cathedral church of the Episcopal Diocese of Chicago, a network of 125 churches, and operates as the spiritual center for the regional Episcopal community, hosting diocesan events, ordinations, and episcopal services. Its core offerings include daily and Sunday worship services (Spoken Eucharist, Family Eucharist, Choral Eucharist), Choral Evensong, faith formation for children and adults, pastoral care, weddings and funerals, and community outreach programs such as Summer in the City (a 26-year-old free summer enrichment camp) and St. James Meals.

The cathedral's defining product is its music program, built on a 150-year heritage that includes the legacy of Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Leo Sowerby (Director of Music 1927-1962) and ongoing commissioning of new choral works. The Cathedral Choir, Choister School, and a partnership with the Music Institute of Chicago (one of eight MIC locations, 50% scholarship for choristers, 2,000+ students served annually) are central to its identity. Technology is limited to live-streaming of the 11 a.m. Choral Eucharist via YouTube and a dedicated streaming page, online giving through Realm, and event scheduling via Rotunda Software; the cathedral is not a technology product company.

Revenue is generated through a hybrid model: pledged annual giving (2026 Season of Faith goal of $850,000 against 220 pledges), weekly offertory collections, weddings ($5,500 ceremony fee, plus $300 for live-streaming and $200 for bishop's judgment in remarriage cases), the Sesquicentennial Gala ($150-$250 tickets), Summer in the City sponsorships ($250-$4,000 tiers), and donations supporting a capital campaign for the purchase of the adjoining 65 E. Huron building. The cathedral is led by the 9th Dean, Lisa Hackney-James (effective February 2025), with a six-person senior team including a Canon Director of Music, a Director of Development, and a Canon for Community Partnerships. The organization employs approximately 60 people and serves a congregation drawn from downtown Chicago, the city at large, and suburbs.

Name

St. James Cathedral

Legal name

St. James Cathedral

Website

https://saintjamescathedral.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1875

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

St. James Cathedral is a 150-year-old Episcopal cathedral in downtown Chicago that serves as the cathedral church of the Episcopal Diocese of Chicago (125 churches). It offers worship services, music and choral programs, faith formation, pastoral care, and community outreach, funded primarily through pledged giving, offertory, weddings, and donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Religious Services / Episcopal Cathedral

NAICS

Religious Organizations (8131), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)

akta.pro primary industry

Places of Worship & Religious Facilities Operations (Cemeteries, Retreat Centers, Pilgrimage Sites) (BPAGAJAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Denominational & Ecclesiastical Governance Bodies (Dioceses, Synods, Conferences) (BPAGAJAB), Religious Music & Worship Broadcasting (MPABALAN)

Keywords

• Episcopal worship services
• Faith formation programs
• Community outreach ministries
• Sacred choral music
• Religious pastoral care

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Pledged Giving: Annual pledge drive (Season of Faith) where parishioners make financial commitments for the coming year. Pledged giving is the principal source of funding for day-to-day operations, utilities, maintenance, personnel, and programming. The 2026 pledge drive goal is $850,000 with 220 pledges.
2. Offertory Collections: Weekly collections during worship services via plate or online giving through Realm portal
3. Wedding Fees: Wedding ceremonies at the cathedral are priced at $5,500, including use of the cathedral, wedding coordinator, music director, and staff services. A deposit of half the fee is required to confirm the date.
4. Donations and Capital Campaign Contributions: Individual donations supporting specific programs such as Summer in the City, the Sesquicentennial Gala, and capital campaign for 65 E. Huron building purchase

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

St. James Cathedral is an Episcopal cathedral providing in-person and live-streamed worship services (Eucharist, Choral Evensong), faith formation programs for adults and children, cathedral music (Choir School, Cathedral Choir, concerts), community outreach (Summer in the City, St. James Meals, social justice), pastoral services (baptisms, weddings, funerals), and life-event ceremonies. The cathedral operates as the seat of the Episcopal Diocese of Chicago and serves as a community center for downtown Chicago residents and broader citywide congregants.

Product overview

St. James Cathedral is an Episcopal cathedral church in Chicago offering in-person and virtual worship services (Eucharist, Choral Evensong), faith formation programs (adult and children's ministries), cathedral music (choir, organ, concerts), outreach programs (meals, Summer in the City), and pastoral services (baptisms, weddings, funerals). It is not a technology product company; its offerings are religious and community services rather than software products.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Sunday Worship Services (Eucharist) Three Sunday services at 8 a.m. (Spoken Eucharist), 9 a.m. (Family Eucharist), and 11 a.m. (Choral Eucharist) at St. James Cathedral, serving congregants and visitors across downtown Chicago and the broader city.
• Weekday Eucharist Services Daily 12:10 p.m. Eucharist services Monday through Friday at the cathedral, providing regular weekday worship opportunities for congregants.
• Live-Streamed Worship Services Weekly live-streamed 11 a.m. Choral Eucharist services available via YouTube and the cathedral's streaming page, plus Choral Evensongs and special services available virtually for global remote participation.
• Choral Evensong Services Monthly Choral Evensong services at 4 p.m. on the first Sunday and at 5:45 p.m. on Wednesdays, featuring the Cathedral Choir and the renowned choral music tradition of the cathedral.
• Faith Formation Programs Faith formation programs for all ages including Sunday School for Pre-K through 5th grade, Songs and Stories for children 3 years and under, junior high (6th-8th) and senior high (9th grade+) youth groups, and adult formation opportunities.
• Choir School Chorister training program at St. James Cathedral; choristers receive a 50% scholarship toward music lessons at the Music Institute of Chicago, one of eight MIC locations serving more than 2,000 students annually.
• Concerts and Sacred Music Performances Cathedral music concerts and performances of sacred music, including the ongoing Cathedral Music 2025-26 choral season, featuring the Cathedral Choir and organ performances.
• Summer in the City Camp Free summer enrichment camp offered for 26 years for under-resourced children in Chicago, providing bus transportation, food, arts programming, and cultural activities through donor-sponsored sponsorship levels.
• St. James Meals (Hunger and Poverty Outreach) Community outreach program addressing hunger and poverty in Chicago, providing meals and food security services to those in need.
• Wedding Ceremonies Wedding ceremony hosting at the cathedral at $5,500, including use of the cathedral, wedding coordinator, music director, and staff services. A $2,750 deposit is required to confirm the date.
• Pastoral Care and Life Event Services Pastoral care services including baptisms, funerals, and confirmation preparation, with a pastoral emergencies line available for immediate support.
• Social Justice Ministries Social justice ministries including anti-racism courses, vigils for peace, and community engagement initiatives on faith and public life issues.
• Annual Meeting and Sesquicentennial Gala Annual meeting and the Sesquicentennial (150th anniversary) Gala at the Driehaus Museum featuring world-renowned restoration architect Gunny Harboe and cathedral leadership, with standard tickets starting at $150 and VIP tickets at $250.

Quantifiable outcome

• Free summer camp provided to hundreds of children over 26 years through Summer in the City program
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Episcopal Diocese of Chicago Women ClergyminorOthers · 27 July 2024Women clergy of the Episcopal Diocese of Chicago sponsored and supported the screening of 'The Philadelphia Eleven' documentary marking the 50th anniversary of the ordination of women to the priesthood. St. James Cathedral served as host venue.
• Episcopal Diocese of ChicagocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSt. James Cathedral serves as the cathedral church of the Episcopal Diocese of Chicago, a group of 125 churches. The cathedral hosts major diocesan events, celebrations, and episcopal services. The diocese is currently working with the cathedral on the sale and purchase of the building at 65 E. Huron.
• Music Institute of ChicagocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSt. James Cathedral is one of eight locations for the Music Institute of Chicago, which serves more than 2,000 students of all ages. Choristers in the Choir School at St. James receive a 50% scholarship toward music lessons at MIC. Marie Alatalo serves as campus coordinator.
• St. Martin's Episcopal ChurchminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint retreats with St. Martin's Episcopal Church for children, youth, and young adult ministries. Co-sponsored the Advent 2025 Parish Retreat led by Fr. Juan Reed. St. James Pride group watches and discusses documentaries together with St. Martin's members.
• St. Martin's Episcopal Church (Austin neighborhood)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCanon Christopher Griffin serves as both Canon for Community Partnerships at St. James Cathedral and as Vicar of St. Martin's Episcopal Church in the Austin neighborhood, where he has served for 13 years.
• The Episcopal ChurchcoreOthersSt. James Cathedral is part of The Episcopal Church, a province of the Anglican Communion. Members participate in the 'Episcopal branch of the Jesus Movement' and follow the Book of Common Prayer liturgical tradition.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights12 records

Regional players

• Fourth Presbyterian Church (Chicago): Large mainline Protestant congregation on Chicago's Magnificent Mile with substantial music, formation, and outreach programming. Comparable as a nearby downtown Chicago congregation with similar progressive, programmatic operating model.
• Holy Name Cathedral (Chicago): Catholic cathedral serving the Archdiocese of Chicago, located in the same Near North Side neighborhood. Comparable as the other major downtown Chicago cathedral, hosting diocesan services and offering similar wedding, formation, and music programs.
• Rockefeller Memorial Chapel (University of Chicago): Historic interdenominational chapel on the University of Chicago campus known for its concert programming and choral music. Comparable as a nearby Chicago venue with a similar musical heritage and live-streamed worship capability.

Direct peers

• Washington National Cathedral: Principal Episcopal cathedral of the United States, serving as the spiritual seat for the presiding bishop. Directly comparable as a historic Episcopal cathedral with national-profile music, outreach, and formation programs.
• Christ Church Cathedral (Indianapolis): Episcopal cathedral serving the Diocese of Indianapolis. Comparable as a Midwestern Episcopal cathedral with diocesan governance role and music, formation, and outreach programs of similar scale.
• Trinity Church Wall Street: Historic Episcopal parish in lower Manhattan with a renowned music program and significant real estate holdings. Comparable as a flagship Episcopal congregation with strong music, formation, and philanthropy operations.
• St. Thomas Church Fifth Avenue: Episcopal church in Manhattan known for its world-class music program and choral tradition. Directly comparable as St. James's Canon Director of Music, Stephen Buzard, previously served as Acting Organist and Director of Music here.
• Grace Cathedral (San Francisco): Episcopal cathedral in San Francisco with a progressive theological stance and strong music and formation programs. Comparable as a flagship mainline Episcopal institution in a major U.S. city with similar demographic and programmatic profile.
• St. Mark's Cathedral (Seattle): Episcopal cathedral in Seattle serving as the seat of the Diocese of Olympia. Comparable as a Pacific Northwest Episcopal cathedral with comparable music, formation, and community-outreach programming.
• Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine: Episcopal cathedral in New York City with a major music program and extensive community outreach. Comparable as a similarly historic Episcopal cathedral with signature choral programming and social justice ministries.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/stjameschicago
• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/StJamesCathedralChicago
• Facebookfacebook.com/SaintJamesCathedralChicago
• Instagraminstagram.com/stjamescathedralchicago
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/st-james-cathedral

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about St. James Cathedral