Our Patron Saint
James is the son of Zebedee and is often referred to as “the Greater” as a way of distinguishing him from the other apostle of the same name “the Less” which probably had to do with stature.
James was John the disciple’s older brother. Together the two of them we called the “Sons of Thunder”. It is unlikely he had any of the rabbinical schooling of his time but he did have an ordinary education. He was often singled out among the apostles and for this, he was believed to have been a respected, close friend of Jesus.
James the Greater preached in Spain and helped Christianity to spread. When he returned to Judea, he was ordered to death by Herod. His body later went to Compostela, which was a famous place of pilgrimage through the Middle Ages.
St. James is the patron saint of laborers as well as Spain and lost souls. His feast day is July 25.
James was John the disciple’s older brother. Together the two of them we called the “Sons of Thunder”. It is unlikely he had any of the rabbinical schooling of his time but he did have an ordinary education. He was often singled out among the apostles and for this, he was believed to have been a respected, close friend of Jesus.
James the Greater preached in Spain and helped Christianity to spread. When he returned to Judea, he was ordered to death by Herod. His body later went to Compostela, which was a famous place of pilgrimage through the Middle Ages.
St. James is the patron saint of laborers as well as Spain and lost souls. His feast day is July 25.
St. James Parish History
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Like most of North Carolina, the first Catholic mass in our counties was celebrated in somebody's home. Ancient memories say the late 1870's. The first St. Paul Church was built in 1924 at the intersection of College and Montgomery Streets in Henderson. Meanwhile, masses continued in family homes in Oxford until the Chapel Railroad car was brought to town after having served in Morehead City and Wake Forest.
With income from the Parish Farm and the sale of the Chapel Car, a new Church of St. Catherine of Siena was built on Williamsboro Street in Oxford in 1955. By the 1960's, St. Paul Church was in disrepair, and the diocese purchased 4.25 acres on the edge of town to relocate. A desire to add greater and better Faith Development facilities for the growing number of young people was the starting point for what has become our new Church of St. James is situated on 13.64 acres and is located almost exactly half-way between the former Henderson and Oxford parishes.
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Beautiful new features of St. James complement the church: the Prayer Path and outdoor Stations of the Cross were designed and built by our Parker-Wood Council of the Knights of Columbus. A statue of Mary graces the center of the path behind the rectory.
The St. James Catholic cemetery contains the columbarium and gravesites. The St. Joseph section of the cemetery is marked by a beautiful outdoor garden and benches.
In the year of the Jubilee, 2000, the church completed construction of the parish hall, kitchen and classrooms. New wooden pews were also added to the church. Parishioners were also added to the church. Parishioners participated by painting, roofing and laying floor in the new addition. 
The St. James Early Childhood Center opened in the new classrooms to provide part-time care and an early childhood Catholic education to children in our community and operated at the church from 2001-2005.
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