[1][4] As Canon of Bermuda Cathedral and Vice-Chairman of the Building Committee, he approved the design and oversaw the collection for and construction of the new cathedral and was at the same time de jure Archdeacon of Bermuda.
[5][6] Although only Vice-Chairman, in reality, the Chairman, Llewellyn Jones, the Bishop of Newfoundland and Bermuda was seldom there, so James was de facto head of the committee.
James died in office before the completion of the construction of Bermuda Cathedral and there remains a bell put up in memorial for him.
[9] Through his sister Martha, James was brother-in-law of The Ven Andrew Spens of Craigsanquhar, the Archdeacon of Lahore.
His aunt was Maria, Countess of Buchan Mark James died on 16 May 1898 in Hamilton, Bermuda.