A small group of believers came together and Elder Eugene Robinson became its first pastor. The group found a small brick building on 15th and Elizabeth Avenue. The church began as the North Chicago Junction Church of God in Christ. In 1938, Elder Robinson left the church and the leadership was in the hands of Superintendent W. Williams, Superintendent of the North Shore District of Northern Illin
ois of the Churches of God in Christ. District. Superintendent Williams began looking for a pastor to shepherd the small congregation. Superintendent Williams was an instructor in the Gospel Workers Institute of Northern Illinois, Church of God in Christ. He had a very dedicated student by the name of Elder James W. Markham as a part of his class. Elder James W. Markham was an anointed young man who was saved and baptized in the Holy Ghost in 1930 in Wilson Arkansas. He and his wife, Sister Jettye Markham, received Christ together and worked faithfully in Arkansas under the spiritual leadership of the late Superintendent W. Adams. The Lord called Elder James Markham to the ministry in 1932. During Sunday school, the Lord anointed him to speak and the saints were greatly blessed. Although he was blessed at the West Helena Church in Arkansas, Elder Markham, his wife and two children, moved to Asheville, North Carolina and united under the leadership of Elder Jesse Griffins. There he worked faithfully as an assistant pastor and played an important role in the building of a brick church on Sycamore Street in Asheville, North Carolina. After the untimely death of their only daughter in 1937, Elder and Sister Markham, with their son, moved to Chicago and joined the 40th Street Church of God in Christ (now the Roberts Temple Church) under the leadership of Bishop William Roberts. Elder Markham became one of Bishop Roberts’ faithful spiritual sons and was a tremendous help to the 40th Street Church. Bishop Roberts ordained Elder James W. Markham as an ordained elder in 1938. Superintendent W. Williams admired Elder Markham and in 1940, he asked Bishop Roberts if Elder Markham could help him at the North Chicago Church. Superintendent Williams sent Elder Markham to minister to the people on several occasions. His ministry blessed the small congregation. They enjoyed his anointed preaching and decided that he should be their pastor. A committee, which included Deacon Cleo Thompson, Mother Ethel Roberts and Deacon John Roberts, asked Bishop Roberts to allow Elder James W. Markham to be their pastor. Bishop Roberts gave his full endorsement and appointed him as pastor of the North Chicago Junction Church of God in Christ. During the 50’s and 60’s, church building at 15th and Elizabeth Avenue became too small for the growing congregation. The vision for a new church building came about in 1974. After much labor and prayer, a new church was built and completed on June of 1977 at a cost of over $ 350,000.00. Supt. Markham and the saints marched into the GREATER ST.JAMES TEMPLE CHURCH OF GOD IN CHRIST at 2131 Wright Avenue in North Chicago, Illinois. After laboring for over fifty years, BISHOP JAMES W. MARKHAM was called home to be with the Lord on March 13, 1992. On Thursday, March 19, 1992, at the end of the funeral service of Bishop Markham, the Presiding Bishop of the Church of God in Christ, Bishop Louis Henry Ford consecrated Elder Torrance A. Markham, Bishop Markham’s grandson, as the new pastor of Greater St. James Temple. In 2001 the Greater St. James Community Development Corporation was formed to serve the Lake County Community. God’s favor continues to rest upon this church. Missions and evangelism are emphasized and the Glory of God is revealed. We honor our PAST, but we look forward to a strong FUTURE. Greater St. James Temple Church of God in Christ is a church in the community, with the community in its heart.
