About St. James · Hamlet, North Carolina
St. James is a Roman Catholic parish in Hamlet, North Carolina, situated in the southeastern-most corner of the Diocese of Charlotte and serving the Catholic community of Richmond County. Founded in 1910 when Father William B. Hannon traveled north to raise funds for the church and its stained glass windows, St. James has ministered to local Catholics for more than a century and is today home to roughly 110 households with about 100 children enrolled in faith formation. The parish shares its pastor with Sacred Heart Mission in nearby Wadesboro and is celebrated for its annual pork and chicken barbecue, a community event beloved by parishioners and the wider Richmond County community. Worship is offered in both English and Spanish, with a Saturday Vigil Mass, a Sunday morning Mass, and a Sunday afternoon Mass in Spanish.
- Established
- 1910
- Patron
- St. James (the Apostle)
- Rector
- Reverend Fidel Melo
- Diocese
- Diocese of Charlotte
Why belong here
St. James welcomes anyone seeking a Catholic home in Richmond County, offering Mass in both English and Spanish every weekend along with weekday Masses on Monday, Thursday and Friday. The parish has a strong faith formation program with around 100 children enrolled, hosts a parish office that also serves the sister mission of Sacred Heart in Wadesboro, and is home to Knights of Columbus Council 10783. Annual events like the parish pork and chicken barbecue draw together parishioners and the wider Hamlet community, making St. James both a place of worship and a center of fellowship in southeastern North Carolina.
Mass times at St. James
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:00 PM – 4:45 PM (or by appointment)
History of St. James Parish
St. James has its roots in the small Catholic community of Richmond County in the early 20th century, when visiting priests from Southern Pines, Fayetteville and Wilmington traveled to minister to scattered Catholic families in their homes. In 1910, Father William B. Hannon launched the effort to build a permanent church in Hamlet, traveling north to solicit donations for construction and to acquire the stained glass windows that still adorn the present church. The new church was dedicated in July 1910 by Bishop Leo Haid, vicar apostolic of North Carolina and Benedictine abbot, and placed under the patronage of St. James. More than a century later, the parish remains an active Catholic presence in the southeastern-most corner of the Diocese of Charlotte.
- Founded 1910; dedicated July 1910 by Bishop Leo Haid, O.S.B.
- Founding priest: Father William B. Hannon
- Stained glass windows acquired through northern fundraising trip and still in place today
- Catechized the scattered Catholic families of Richmond and Scotland counties
Parish Identity & Diocese
St. James is a parish of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Charlotte, in the Latin (Roman) Rite, and forms a single pastoral community with Sacred Heart Mission in Wadesboro, NC. The parish serves the Catholic faithful of Richmond County and is one of the southeastern-most parishes in the Diocese of Charlotte.
- Diocese of Charlotte
- Roman-Latin Rite
- Located at 1018 W Hamlet Ave, Hamlet, NC 28345
- Sharing pastor and staff with Sacred Heart Mission, Wadesboro
Clergy & Staff
The parish is currently served by Reverend Fidel Melo as pastor, overseeing both St. James and Sacred Heart Mission from the parish office on West Hamlet Avenue. Earlier parish bulletins and diocesan publications identify Reverend Jean Pierre Swamunu Lhoposo as a previous pastor of the Hamlet–Wadesboro community. The parish office also lists Mrs. Rosy Garcia as secretary and Mrs. Cecilia Wilson as the English faith formation director.
- Pastor: Reverend Fidel Melo
- Former pastor: Reverend Jean Pierre Swamunu Lhoposo (circa 2015–2021)
- Founding priest (1910): Father William B. Hannon
- Secretary: Mrs. Rosy Garcia (English)
- Faith Formation Director (English): Mrs. Cecilia Wilson
- Spanish Choir Director: Mr. Ismael Gomez
- English Music Director: TBD as of 2021
Faith Formation & Religious Education
St. James maintains an active faith formation program for the children of the parish, with approximately 100 students currently enrolled. English-language faith formation is directed by Mrs. Cecilia Wilson, and families register through the parish office.
- About 100 children enrolled
- English Faith Formation Director: Mrs. Cecilia Wilson
- Adult faith formation inquiries handled through the parish office
Music & Liturgy
The parish celebrates Mass in both English and Spanish and supports both an English and a Spanish music program. The Spanish Choir is led by Mr. Ismael Gomez; the English music director position was listed as TBD in parish bulletins as of 2021.
- Spanish Choir Director: Mr. Ismael Gomez
- English Music Director: TBD (as of 2021)
- Worship in English and Spanish
Parish Life & Community Outreach
St. James is known for its close-knit community and its signature annual pork and chicken barbecue, which has become a popular event enjoyed by both parishioners and the wider Richmond County community. The parish also hosts Knights of Columbus Council 10783 and partners with Sacred Heart Mission in Wadesboro for shared pastoral care, faith formation, and community events.
- Annual Pork and Chicken Barbecue (parish fundraiser and community event)
- Knights of Columbus Council 10783 (District 19, Region 7)
- Joint ministry with Sacred Heart Mission, Wadesboro
- Parish bulletin published jointly with Sacred Heart Mission
Visiting & Contact
Visitors and parishioners can reach the parish office at (910) 582-0207 or by email at [email protected]. Office hours listed in past bulletins were Monday, Thursday and Friday from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM. The parish is located at 1018 West Hamlet Avenue in Hamlet, NC, with easy access from I-95 via US Highway 74 West.
- Address: 1018 W Hamlet Ave, Hamlet, NC 28345
- Phone: (910) 582-0207
- Email: [email protected]
- Office hours: Mon / Thurs / Fri, 9 AM – 2 PM
- Website: charlottediocese.org/parishes/st-james-hamlet/
- From I-95, take the exit onto US Hwy 74 West toward Hamlet
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father William B. Hannon1910 (founding)
Traveled north to raise funds for construction and stained glass windows for the new church in Hamlet.
- Reverend Jean Pierre Swamunu Lhoposocirca 2015–2021
Listed as pastor of St. James and Sacred Heart Mission in diocesan Forward in Faith, Hope, and Love issues and in parish bulletins through at least June 2021.
- Reverend Fidel Melocurrent (Diocese of Charlotte listing)
Currently listed as pastor of both St. James (Hamlet) and Sacred Heart Mission (Wadesboro).