Named after St. James the Just of Jerusalem, our church began in 1962 when 55 persons signed a petition to establish a mission on the north side of the Peace River. A meeting was called and vestry elected. The first service was attended by 100. Services were held at Community House until the church building was erected on land donated by the Mackle Brothers (developers who planned and built much of Charlotte County.) The church doors opened Easter Sunday 1963. On October 1973, 11 years and 8 months after the organizational meeting, St. James became self-supporting. At the 1996 Annual Meeting the organization burned the mortgage. In 1997-98, a new Parish Hall was built at a cost of $270,000. Pledges from the congregation formed an integral part of this achievement.
OUR CLERGY
​​
The Very Rev. Cesar Olivero graduated from the Virginia Theological Seminary in 2003. He served as Deacon until he was ordained as a Priest in December, 2003. He was then installed as Priest-in-Charge until he became full-time Rector on November 5, 2005.
He currently serves as Dean of the Venice Deanery and has served several times in the past. He has also served on Standing Committee for the Diocese for12 years; which three of those years he served as President and four years as Vice-President. He also served as Chairman of Commission on Ministry.
Fr. Olivero is married to Pamela, who is the Parish Administrator at St. James. He has 5 children, two stepchildren and 8 grandchildren. He enjoys spending time with his family and grandchildren.
We are truly blessed to have Fr. Cesar at St. James and look forward to his continuing to serve God and his church.
The Very Reverend Cesar Olivero​
The Reverend Jane Y. Kelly, Deacon
The Reverend Jane Y. Kelly serves as Deacon at St. James. She was ordained in the Diocese of Southwest Florida. She currently is a member of the Daughters of the King and the Episcopal Church Women. She also serves as Chaplain at Shorepoint Hospital. She is married to Richard Weber.
