[2] The church was founded in 1833 by workers building the Illinois and Michigan Canal, and first met in a rough log cabin.

The present church building was built from 1853 to 1858 of locally quarried limestone painstakingly dragged up the steep hill.

[2] On March 27, 1991, a tornado caused significant damage to Lemont and Sag Bridge, including the historic St. James church and cemetery.

[3] The tornado lifted up the roof of the church and dropped it back down askew, and knocked over numerous trees and tombstones in the cemetery.

A group of dedicated parishioners banded together as the St. James Preservation Society to repair the damage and restore their church.