In the second half of the 19th century, a new brick church was built in Gubkin thanks to the efforts of well-known patrons, brothers Vasily and Nikolai Korobkov, and was consecrated in honor of St. James the Apostle. It was constructed in 1882 with their funds.

By the early 20th century, the parish had become populous and prosperous, uniting 308 parishioners, including townspeople, peasants, and merchants. Three schools operated at the church: a parish school and two zemstvo schools.

The period from 1908 to the 1930s is considered the time of flourishing for the parish and the active work of its clergy. However, with the advent of Soviet power, the cathedral faced a sad fate: in the mid-1930s, it was closed, looted, and destroyed. In memory of the Korobkov brothers, services continued in their family estate.

Only in 1996 did the construction of a new church in the name of St. James the Apostle begin. The work lasted seven years, and in the summer of 2002, a new church with the same name was opened. This became possible thanks to the funding from the Shumeiko family and donations from parishioners.