BERNARDS TOWNSHIP — A Roman Catholic church with its roots dating back to the American Revolution will celebrate its 150th anniversary this weekend with an anniversary Mass and gala dinner dance.
The Church of St. James at 184 South Finley Avenue in the Basking Ridge section of Bernards Township will mark its 150th anniversary with a parish gala Saturday at Dolce in Basking Ridge, featuring dining, dancing and entertainment.
And on Sunday, His Excellency Bishop Paul G. Bootkoski of the Diocese of Metuchen will celebrate with a special 150th Anniversary Mass at the church.
The parish has roots back to the American Revolution, when a priest from Mendham visited to celebrate Mass and the sacraments for area families, according to Charles Wasilewski of the church's 150th anniversary committee.
St. James Church was incorporated on Oct. 20, 1864 by the Most Reverend James Roosevelt Bayley, a second cousin of President Franklin D. Roosevelt and a cousin of 20th century Saint Elizabeth Bayley "Mother" Seton. The incorporation papers listed "baskinridge" as the church's location.
Property was purchased in 1859 on the lower end of South Maple Avenue and Henry Street, including a third of an acre and a 125-year old carpenter shop which was converted into a church to seat 85 people.
The church has had three sanctuaries in its history — the original church building on South Maple near Henry Street, the current St. James Chapel opened in 1959, and the church built in 1999.
Today, St. James School educates more than 350 students from pre-K through eighth grade, plus thousands of religious education students, drawing its student body from more than 16 communities and 16 parishes.
For more information on the church and its 150th anniversary visit The Church of St. James website, call 908-766-0888 or email stjamesbr@optonline.net.
Walter O'Brien may be reached at wobrien@nj.com. Follow him on Twitter @wobriensomerset. Find NJ.com on Facebook.