The idea of a new chapel in North Stoughton was the dream of Reverend William W. Gunn, Pastor of the Immaculate Conception Church in Stoughton Center. Father Gunn’s love for children inspired him to seek a site to be the home of a new “Children’s Chapel.” The Sullivan Family of 150 Turnpike Street, Stoughton generously offered a building on their property, formerly  a stable.  In gratitude, Father Gunn named the chapel “Saint James Chapel” after the patron saint of Mr. James Sullivan.  The chapel’s first Mass was offered on January 17, 1943.  Only six people were present for the Mass because of icy winter weather.

In the early days of the chapel, Reverend Frank M. Graf and Reverend James S. Dalton, assistants at Immaculate Conception Church, along with Father Gunn offered Mass each week.  Later others, including Father Edmond V. Cornelier who worked with parishioners to remodel and decorate the chapel and Father John P. Cosgrove, who said Mass each Sunday for ten years, helped build the spirit of devotion to the new chapel.  In recognition of the growth of the St. James Chapel, Richard Cardinal Cushing purchased twenty acres of land on the west side of Page Street in 1961 to establish an independent parish.  According to a decree signed by Cardinal Cushing, the Parish of St. James was officially founded “at 12:01 A.M. April 11, 1962.” 
   
In May 2004, the Archdiocese announced that St. James, part of a “cluster” with Our Lady of the Rosary parish, would close.  In a reversal of that decision, the Archdiocese said in February 2005 that St. James would remain open as a “welcoming parish” and Our Lady of the Rosary would be shuttered instead. And so, even as a family expands to include a new member, St. James and Our Lady of the Rosary came together as a larger Catholic faith community. Today the statue of Our Lady of the Rosary stands on St. James’ parish grounds and the crucifix from Our Lady’s adorns St. James’ entrance and is used for the most solemn liturgies.  

 Approved by Cardinal Seán in 2012, the new collaborative initiative , “Disciples in Mission” began.  In it’s second phase, St. James and Immaculate Conception, Stoughton were selected as two of the forty-four parishes that would be part of new twenty-one collaboratives.  In January 2014, parishioners of St. James and Immaculate Conception learned that a new Pastor, Father Joseph Mazzone, was selected for them.