A new beginning for fifth graders at the new St. James School

For the fifth graders at St. James School in North Philadelphia, Wednesday was a day of firsts.

First day of class for the first students at the city's first Episcopal middle school for low-income children.

With the help of donors, philanthropists, the Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania, foundations, and area private schools, St. James welcomed its inaugural class of 16 fifth graders Wednesday morning for a typical nine-hour day that included a morning meeting with prayers, an art class inspired by ancient cave paintings in France, and a math challenge.

On Tuesday, the eight boys and eight girls in crisp khaki and maroon uniforms participated in a morning ceremony unlocking the wrought-iron gates to St. James' leafy campus near Laurel Hill Cemetery.

The school began as a vision six years ago of the Rev. Sean Mullen, rector of St. Mark's Episcopal Church in Center City, to provide high-quality education for low-income children.

The middle school, which will add a grade each year until it encompasses eighth grade, is housed in the 1840s stone buildings of the former St. James the Less Episcopal Church on Clearfield Street.

The property was abandoned in 2006 after the Episcopal diocese won a long court battle with a conservative parish that had severed its ties with the diocese. For a few years, St. James the Less had a tiny private elementary school that offered classical education focusing on Latin, grammar, logic, and rhetoric, but it closed in 2003.

Five years later, St. Mark's adopted the then-vacant property.

After extensive talks with neighborhood residents about the educational needs of their children, Mullen, members of his congregation, and other supporters decided to open a middle school. The school became one of St. Mark's missions and ministries.

St. James is modeled after the Nativity Miguel network of private - mostly Roman Catholic - inner-city schools for low-income students of all faiths.

Mullen said he was inspired by a visit to the Epiphany School in Boston's Dorchester neighborhood, the first Episcopal school in the network.

"I knew, seeing not just the school but especially the students and hearing the stories of those students . . . I knew this was something we needed in Philadelphia," Mullen said.