Saint James Church is one of the forgotten churches of Chattanooga, Tennessee that has faded away with history and time. Not too much history about this church can be found online or offline. 
The year Saint James Church was organized, established, and constructed was 1897 by Rev. Hanson of the North Georgia Annual Conference of the A.M.E. Church. The church worshiped at the old Chickamauga School (Chickamauga Elementary School) on Chickamauga Road (now Airport Road) until the church building was completed. Beginning in 1898, the address of Saint James Church was 1724 Chickamauga Loop, Chattanooga, Tennessee and was known as St. James African Methodist Episcopal Church. (Ref: https://notesfromtheninthcircle.blogspot.com/2019/08/chattanoogas-afro-american-heritage.html)
Saint James Church was mainly an Episcopalian church at first. Although baptisms were held at this church. Episcopalian and Baptist congregations both used this church.
Saint James Church was an African American church which operated under the names of Saint James African American Methodist Church, Saint James African Methodist Episcopal Church, St. James Church, and St. James African Methodist Episcopal Church.
The land on which the church was built on was given by Mr. W. B. Bedell and Mrs. W. B. Bedell. On May 20, 1901, the property was deeded to the Trustees of the Saint James A.M.E. Church. The Trustees were Mr. Robert Stone, Mr. Wiley Strickland and Mr. Cicero C. Henderson. In 1901, Saint James Church became a Methodist church. Saint James Church was fully operational by the 20th century. (Ref: http://shepherdtn.com/churches/)
Saint James Church moved from the address of 1724 Chickamauga Loop to 823 Chikamauga Road in 1901 after the church building was completed again.
Saint James Church was reported as being a Methodist church in 1909. The building of Saint James Church was a handsome Christian Gothic church constructed out of red brick with an auditorium that held a capacity of 850 and a Sunday school room. A $3,500 dollar parsonage was built as well. Reverend W. F. Pitts was appointed in the year 1908. (Ref: The Christian Advocate, Volume 84, Page 22)
Reverend W. F. Pitts had been promoted to pastor in 1910. He was also presiding as chosen treasurer since the church had appointed him to be treasurer. Reverend W. F. Pitts was the officiating pastor of the Methodist Episcopal church. He had been acting as a reverend for many churches in the state of Tennessee before settling in Chattanooga. He had done work in Knoxville prior to 1908. (Ref: https://www.newspapers.com/clip/39906997/the-journal-and-tribune/)
By the 1910s and 1920s, Episcopalian, Methodist, and Baptist congregations had been using this church for their services. Although it was mostly the Methodist congregation which used this church much throughout the 20th century.
USGS data shows a church labeled as “St James Ch” on a 1935 USGS topographical map. Saint James Church was located on a road which was once called Chickamauga Road and is now Airport Road. The address of Saint James Church was 823 Chikamauga Road, Chattanooga, Tennessee. (Ref: 1935 USGS topographical map of Chattanooga, Tennessee)
Saint James Church changed their address from “823 Chikamauga Road” to “823 Airport Road” in 1953 after Chikamauga Road was renamed to Airport Road.
Share Faith has the address of Saint James Church listed as “823 Airport Rd Chattanooga, Tennessee 37421”. So Saint James Church has been on Airport Road since at least the 20th century. (Ref: https://www.sharefaith.com/guide/church-directory/tennessee/hamilton-county/chattanooga/saint-james-church.html)
Sometime between 2003 to 2006 is when the building for Saint James Church was either demolished, sold, or relocated. Exactly what happened to this church building is unknown. Whispering Pines Mobile Homes now surrounds the church property.
Saint James Church was located at 823 Airport Road, Chattanooga, Tennessee, US 37421.
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