Reverend Richard Baker came to St. James on an interim basis in January of 1998. He had previously served at Trinity Church in Warren, PA for 24 years until his retirement. Father Baker brought to St. James an incredible energy which was felt throughout the whole church. The search for a new rector took longer than was expected and what started out as a short-term stay, turned into one and a half years.
Father Baker was born in Buffalo, NY on November 1, 1926. He was educated at Hobart College and Kenyon College. He served as Vicar at St. Martin in the Fields, at Grand Island, New York from 1953 until 1957, where he assisted the congregation in the building of their church.
From New York, he went to Guam to serve as Vicar at St. John the Divine from 1957 to 1960, where he established the work of the Episcopal Church. From 1960 until 1966 he was the rector at St. Peter's in Westfield, New York where he enabled the congregation to heal. It was in 1966 that he became rector at Trinity Church. At Trinity he nurtured the congregation through the Prayer Book Revision, acceptance of the ordination of women, and a major addition to the building. Upon his retirement, he became an honoray Canon, at the Cathedral of St. Paul in Erie, Pennsylvania. He has also served temporary duty at St. George's, Monsterrat, BWI, and was an interim at Grace Church in Randolph, New York.
Father Baker is married to Marcia, and they have many children, which the congregation at St. James had the pleasure to meet at various times throughout his stay.
During his time at St. James he held Lenten mid-week services in which the congregation was led in the Eucharists starting with what it would have been like in the earliest version of the Book of Common Prayer, and then through to what it might be like in the future. He also led a service as it is done in Guam. He never hesitated to share with the congregation, his many stories of his travels to the Holy Land and also his life in general. Many people still talk of his story about building his pond. Father Baker also led Bible Studies on the Book of Exodus as well as others. It was at Rev. Baker's suggestion that St. James develop a Photo Directory, to assist the new Rector when he came. Father Baker also suggested that St. James might develop into a closer congregation if it went to holding just one service on Sunday, instead of two, and by doing this the congregation has became one church family.
St. James was blessed to have had The Rev. Canon Richard Baker among them and his presence here will be felt for many years.