On July 16, 1848, the congregation held its last service at the building.
The congregation moved to the St. James Episcopal Church, a wood Gothic Revival structure at 84-07 Broadway.
The graveyard at the old church remained in use until 1851, when most corpses were disinterred and relocated to the new church.
Subsequently, the old St. James Church became a parish hall, and the pulpit was removed in 1861 when the old church building was turned into a Sunday school.
St. James Parish became part of the Episcopal Diocese of Long Island when the latter was founded in 1868.
The remaining graves at Old St. James Church's cemetery were disinterred in 1882, and old grave markers were removed.
Additionally, between 1882 and 1883, the steeple of the old tower was taken down, and the rear annex was built on the site of the tower.
The facade of the parish building was also rebuilt in the Gothic Revival style.
The pews were replaced with benches, the paneling was reused as wainscoting, and all windows were replaced.

During the late 1890s, Newtown was renamed Elmhurst and became part of the City of Greater New York.
Elmhurst started being developed as a commercial and residential neighborhood.
Following a fire in 1924, electricity was installed and a restroom and kitchen were added.
The church's lot was reduced in the 1920s when Reeder Street was constructed to the west, 51st Avenue was widened to the north, and Broadway was widened to the east.
When the New York City Subway's underground Queens Boulevard Line was being built through the area in the 1920s and early 1930s, an easement was granted to the New York City Board of Transportation, which was digging the line under the church as part of the Independent Subway System.
The city government attempted to take the church's former cemetery in the 1930s for the construction of a playground, under the argument that it was legally a town cemetery.

News articles through 1925 mention the old St. James Church being used as a chapel.
It was used as a parish hall and Sunday school until 1941 when a new parish hall was built behind the newer St. James Episcopal Church.
The parish building was used by the St. James Troop of the Boy Scouts of America from 1928 to 1953, and was used by the Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts and Brownies until the 1980s.
The vestry refused a 1950s offer by the U.S. government to use the St. James Church for civilian defense, as well as an offer by the United States Postal Service to demolish the church for a post office in 1963.

During the late 20th century, the old St. James Church was variously occupied by Vietnam Veterans of America, Alcoholics Anonymous, the Indonesian Bethel Gospel Church, and a group for Chinese senior citizens.
By the 1990s, the parish building was deteriorating.
Father William Galer and architect Kaitsen Woo collectively secured $400,000 in funding to restore the building to its original condition, under plans prepared by Woo.
The restoration was completed in 2004, the 300th anniversary of the parish.
The rebuilt church is used as a community center.
On July 16, 1848, the congregation held its last service at the building. The congregation moved to the St. James Episcopal Church, a wood Gothic Revival structure at 84-07 Broadway. The graveyard at the old church remained in use until 1851, when most corpses were disinterred and relocated to the new church. Subsequently, the old St. James Church became a parish hall, and the pulpit was removed in 1861 when the old church building was turned into a Sunday school. St. James Parish became part of the Episcopal Diocese of Long Island when the latter was founded in 1868. The remaining graves at Old St. James Church's cemetery were disinterred in 1882, and old grave markers were removed. Additionally, between 1882 and 1883, the steeple of the old tower was taken down, and the rear annex was built on the site of the tower. The facade of the parish building was also rebuilt in the Gothic Revival style. The pews were replaced with benches, the paneling was reused as wainscoting, and all windows were replaced.
During the late 1890s, Newtown was renamed Elmhurst and became part of the City of Greater New York. Elmhurst started being developed as a commercial and residential neighborhood. Following a fire in 1924, electricity was installed and a restroom and kitchen were added. The church's lot was reduced in the 1920s when Reeder Street was constructed to the west, 51st Avenue was widened to the north, and Broadway was widened to the east. When the New York City Subway's underground Queens Boulevard Line was being built through the area in the 1920s and early 1930s, an easement was granted to the New York City Board of Transportation, which was digging the line under the church as part of the Independent Subway System. The city government attempted to take the church's former cemetery in the 1930s for the construction of a playground, under the argument that it was legally a town cemetery.
News articles through 1925 mention the old St. James Church being used as a chapel. It was used as a parish hall and Sunday school until 1941 when a new parish hall was built behind the newer St. James Episcopal Church. The parish building was used by the St. James Troop of the Boy Scouts of America from 1928 to 1953, and was used by the Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts and Brownies until the 1980s. The vestry refused a 1950s offer by the U.S. government to use the St. James Church for civilian defense, as well as an offer by the United States Postal Service to demolish the church for a post office in 1963.
During the late 20th century, the old St. James Church was variously occupied by Vietnam Veterans of America, Alcoholics Anonymous, the Indonesian Bethel Gospel Church, and a group for Chinese senior citizens. By the 1990s, the parish building was deteriorating. Father William Galer and architect Kaitsen Woo collectively secured $400,000 in funding to restore the building to its original condition, under plans prepared by Woo. The restoration was completed in 2004, the 300th anniversary of the parish. The rebuilt church is used as a community center.
St. James Church (Queens)