St James Basilica Catholic Church

Basilica of St James can be found at 1st Ave S 622. The following is offered: Tourist Attractions. The entry is present with us since Sep 9, 2010 and was last updated on Nov 14, 2013. In Jamestown there are 4 other Tourist Attractions. An overview can be found here.

Consecrated by Bishop O'Reilly of Fargo in 1914, the 140 feet long and 50 feet wide American Gothic-style church is made of trimmed granite and rock faced while the superstructure is of pressed Hebron brick and Bedford stone trimmings. St. James was elevated as a Minor Basilica by Most Reverend James S. Sullivan, Bishop of Fargo in 1989. The basilica is open daily from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Our History: The first Catholics settled in the James and Pipestem river valley as early as 1872 but a church for the congregation was not formed until the later 1870's. Mass was celebrated by missionary priests who made trips through the area. Services were celebrated in a railroad box car, in the courthouse, a one-room school and in Klaus Hall. On May 13, 1883, the first church in Jamestown...