he Rev. John Kim, associate priest at St. James’ Church in Wilshire Center, joins workman in celebrating newly installed statue of Bishop Sungsoo Simon Kim, who at age 96 is still active in ministry in South Korea. Parish photo
For a century, St. James’ in-the-City Episcopal Church has filled a niche in the spiritual lives of thousands of Angelenos. Now it’s going to fill four of its own niches.
In a finishing touch to its comprehensive renovation led by the Rev. Jon Feuss, the Wilshire Center church will bless statues of four of the church’s most revered leaders and its new bell tower crown at a Feb. 22 Evensong.
The 3D-printed statues include Archbishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa; Bishop Sungsoo Simon Kim of South Korea, Bishop Barbara Harris of Massachusetts, and the church’s patron, St. James.
“We’re thrilled to recognize these four whose devotion to Christ inspires us all to make a difference in the world,” said the Rev. Dr. Kate Cress, rector of St. James’ in-the-City. “The choices also reflect our wonderfully diverse and multicultural congregation.”
The four statues will grace niches that have gone unfilled for nearly a century on the L.A. church’s facade facing Wilshire Boulevard.
Pictured on bookshelf are statues’ original designs as small prototypes (from left) Bishop Kim, Bishop Harris, St. James, and Bishop Tutu. Finished statues are now installed on facade of St. James’ Church, Wilshire Center, L.A. Parish photo
The debut of the statues follows a year-long process in which parishioners were asked to nominate worthy candidates for the statues. Few, however, would doubt the significance of the final choices.
Desmond Tutu (1931-2021) led the successful fight against apartheid as Bishop of Johannesburg and archbishop of Cape Town. Barbara Harris (1930-2020) endured threats and controversy to become the first woman to be consecrated a bishop in the Anglican communion. Sungsoo Simon Kim (b. 1930), the only still living among the four, worked tirelessly as a bishop in South Korea – and he’s still active at age 96. Saint James is the church’s patron, an apostle who evangelized modern-day Spain.
Tower at St. James’ Church, Wilshire Center, is newly adorned with crown ornamentation (at right) designed by Rhett Judice and installed in February.
The unveiling of the statues follows the grand reopening of the sanctuary in November after its most thorough renovation in its 100-year history.
The complete overhaul of the gothic-style landmark at 3903 Wilshire Blvd. included restoration of the church’s stained-glass windows, rehabilitating the roof, the addition of a new ornamental wall behind the altar, resurfacing and repainting the church inside and out, installation of a new HVAC system, and installing a new crown for the bell tower, designed by local Episcopalian Rhett Judice.