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We offer daily services and a cultural programme of talks, events and concerts. We seek to be a welcoming space for people to reflect, create and debate
Join St James’s for a Holy Week pilgrimage as we walk the way of the cross together from sorrow to Easter joy. Everyone is welcome at all of our events and services.
17 Feb – 5 April
Joke Amusan’s powerful altarpiece and altar covering for Lent express a story of sacred love, prayer and hope in God’s steadfast presence.
St James’s hosts inclusive services and a cultural programme. We seek to be a welcoming space for people to reflect, create and debate.
St James’s is a place to explore, reflect, pray, and support all who are in need. We are a Church of England parish in the Anglican Communion.
We host a year-round creative programme encompassing music, visual art and spoken word.
We offer hospitality to people going through homelessness and speak out on issues of injustice, especially concerning refugees, asylum, racial justice, and LGBTQ+ issues.
St James’s strives to advocate for earth justice and to develop deeper connections with nature.
We aim to be a place where you can belong. We have a unique history, and the beauty of our building is widely known. Our community commits to faith in action: social and environmental justice; creativity. and the arts
We strive to be a Eucharist-centred, diverse and inclusive Christian community promoting life in abundance, wellbeing and dignity for all.
St James’s Piccadilly has been at the heart of its community since 1684. We invite you to play your part in securing this historic place for generations to come.
It costs £5,000 each day to keep the doors of St James’s open to all who already need us.
A reimagined St James’s realised. A redesigned garden, courtyard and new building capacity—all fully accessible— will provide beautiful spaces for all as well as improving our environmental performance.
Whether shooting a blockbuster TV series or creating a unique corporate event, every hire at St James’s helps our works within the community.
St James's Church 197 Piccadilly London W1J 9LL
Directions on Google Maps
St James’s Piccadilly is delighted to announce the award of a £4.75 million grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund in support of its ambitious Wren Project — a transformational £24 million initiative to renew and reimagine the historic church for the 21st century.
This major investment marks a significant milestone for St James’s as it works to conserve its Grade I listed building, designed by Sir Christopher Wren in 1684, while expanding its role as an inclusive, creative and community-focused space in the heart of London.
The Wren Project will revitalise the entire site — including the church, courtyard and gardens — improving accessibility, restoring historic features, and creating welcoming spaces for all. The plans include new entrances and arches to enhance connectivity, as well as the reinstatement of elements from Wren’s original vision, such as the south door.
Alongside the conservation work, the project will deliver a re-landscaped garden designed for full accessibility and enriched biodiversity, ensuring the space supports both people and nature in one of London’s busiest districts.
At its heart, the Wren Project is about people. A wide-ranging public programme will accompany the redevelopment, including a digital archive, behind-the-scenes tours, and Peaceful Piccadilly — an initiative offering moments of quiet reflection beyond the city’s usual pace. A new organ will also be commissioned for the historic Grinling Gibbons organ case, alongside a ten-year music scholarship programme to nurture emerging talent.
Central to the vision is the Changemaker Programme, an innovative leadership initiative supporting young people committed to social transformation. Over the next decade, the programme will empower 50 young leaders across sectors including the arts, environment, civil society and business, equipping them with the skills, networks and values needed to drive meaningful change.
The Revd Lucy Winkett, said:
“As custodians of this living heritage, we believe the Wren Project is about far more than buildings. It is about creating a space where transformation can happen — in our communities, our environment and in the lives of future generations. We see this church, its courtyard and its gardens as a sacred public space for everyone, of all faiths and none. We are profoundly grateful for this support, which enables us to carry that vision forward.”
The award reflects a growing recognition of the vital role historic places of worship play in community life. Through the Wren Project, St James’s Piccadilly aims not only to safeguard its architectural heritage, but to expand its mission as a place of hospitality, creativity, justice and belonging.
