Belvidere was a mission church as far back as 1838 when a visiting priest of the Chicago diocese would offer Mass in a Catholic home. Belvidere continued as a mission church of Rockford until 1864 when Father Patrick McGuire became the first pastor and built the present rectory in 1872. The church cornerstone was laid in July 1886 and the completed church was formally dedicated on March 28, 1889 by Archbishop Patrick Feehan. St. James has experienced tremendous growth since our humble beginnings.