Name: St. James’s Church Piccadilly
Denomination: Anglican
Address: 197 Piccadilly. W1J 9LL (Wheelchair access from Jermyn Street)
Telephone: 020 7734 4511
Web Site: http://www.sjp.org.uk/
Email: Click Here
Please visit the website for times of services and details of other events.
St. James’s is a parish church in London’s West End, part of the Diocese of London and the world wide Anglican Communion. The building is a Christopher Wren design, consecrated in 1684. Our community (we prefer the term to the more usual ‘congregation’) is diverse.
We seek to be inclusive, and welcoming of both human experience and human diversity. We take the Bible seriously, and seek to understand it in the light of that same experience and diversity, and of what this age knows and Biblical writers did not, and could not, know. Our community is widely representative of attached and single people, gay and straight, those who have a natural faith and those who struggle with belief. We believe that in the Gospel is to be found a radical welcome, a great and generous invitation to share in the banquet of God’s creation. And also a challenge, to this and all generations.
History
The Church was built to the design of Sir Christopher Wren between 1676 and 1684. The Church is a Grade A listed building and is regarded as one of the finest examples of Wren’s parish churches. The Church has been famous for its fashionable and eminent congregations, and literary allusions are frequent, notably in the works of Evelyn, Defoe and Vanbrugh. The Church was badly damaged during the Second World War and subsequently restored under Sir Albert Richardson in the 1950’s. The Church contains an important collection of works by one of the 17″ century’s finest craftsmen, Grinling Gibbons. These include the intricate carved wooden reredos over the high altar, the marble font and the ornately carved organ case (a gift to the Church by King William and Queen Mary in 1691).
Architecture
The Church is a plain brick building with dressings of Portland stone. Wren’s plan was basilical, with the nave and chancel all in one, so that the interior formed one great room with a vaulted ceiling, every part of which is visible at once. One of the greatest triumphs of the restoration was the accurate reproduction of the original plasterwork, by means of plaster-cast mouldings of surviving fragments and with the help of drawings and photographs. The Church was originally built to front Jermyn Street, and in the middle of the south wall there was a large door facing down Duke of York Street to St. James’s Square. This door was removed in 1848 and a window put in its place.
Doctrine and style of worship
The Sunday Parish Eucharist is central to life at St. James’s. It follows the ASB Rite A, but with several features that are distinct to us eg: the Welcome creates an easiness for a group who have not met before. A service sheet is printed each week so that every one can follow the service easily. After the Offertory the community gathers around the Altar for the Eucharistic Prayer and Distribution. Most of the time the Bread is broken in the ‘Fractions’ by the Celebrant(s), (to the east in acknowledgement of other faiths, to the south to name the damaged Earth and its gifts, to the west to own the disenfranchised, to the north to name the brokenness in ourselves). There is variety within our worship, but broadly speaking we are catholic. We have a strong tradition of lay involvement in our services eg: intercessors, readers of Old and New Testaments and the preaching is an important part of worship. Sermons of 20 mins are usual and frequently end with questions/answers/comments via a roving microphone. The Community thrives on sermons that include an intellectual approach to the exploration of scripture, and embrace topics such as current affairs, political issues and human experiences. All language is inclusive and symbols and metaphors for God are either non-gender specific or balanced in use. The music that we use is eclectic, including traditional and modern hymns, Russian Orthodox alleluias, Argentinian Gloria and so on. At the 11.00 am service the clergy wear vestments, process with servers, Cross and Book.
Social Outreach
A welcome is given especially to those who see themselves as marginalised including gay and lesbian Christians, street people, single people, disabled, depressed and those wounded by past church experiences. This welcome is included in all our worship, conversations with clergy and laity and our wide range of activities – social, concerts, art exhibitions, poetry readings, book launches, drama and action groups for the disadvantaged. Everybody is welcome to each activity. There is no ‘membership’ qualification.
Facilities
An Antiques Market is held on Tuesdays and a Craft Market on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Concerts are arranged for several lunchtimes and evenings during the week. The Wren – Aroma cafe is available daily. Activities and special features Church activities include a Julian Group, a Drama Group, Christian Singles group, as well as work for Christian Aid and Asylum Seekers. There is a Creation Spirituality Association and a New Age Project based on site, as well as a caravan for counselling. Hospitality is given to outside groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous and Sufi Meditation.