[3][4] The church was attended by the Prussian Lithuanians (Lietuvininkai) and had a long-term history of Lithuanian-speaking priests.

[3] The church services were held in Latin and sermons were given in German, but there also were translators into the language of the local people who had a dedicated place near the pulpit.

[3][4] Consequently, the parishioners collected funds and the reconstruction project was prepared by architect Friedrich August Stüler which was completed in the winter of 1856.

[3][4] The reconstructed church exterior became more decorated as pointed Neo-Gothic style turrets were added to its façade in the Tiltų Street's side, while the interior was also significantly renewed with a new altar, pulpit, baptistery and by installing a 40-registers organ.

[3][4] Karl Rudolf Jacobi worked in the Church of St. Jacob in 1859–1881 and in 1879 was selected as Chairman of the Lithuanian Literary Society.

[10] Following the Klaipėda Revolt in 1923 the priests of the Church of St. Jacob stayed loyal to Lithuania and did not demonstrate support for Adolf Hitler in 1939.