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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
Mon 13 Oct to Weds 12 Nov
An exhibition of new work by Namibian artist Tuli Mekondjo, part of the Art in the Side Chapel series at St James’s.
Sunday 23 November 7pm
Join your host, Barbara, for an evening of laughter, games, prizes, and festive fun — all in aid of the Christmas for All campaign at St James’s Church, Piccadilly.
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.
The work of St James’s, it costs us £5,000 per day to enable us to keep our doors open to all who 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
Beneath the spire of Sir Christopher Wren’s masterpiece, St James’s prepares once again to open its doors to the magic of the season. But this isn’t just any Christmas concert—it’s the annual Christmas for All Gala Concert, a fundraising concert that has become the hallmark event of the year for a church that has been a beacon of music, community, and compassion for over 340 years.
Rooted in tradition yet inspired by today’s needs, the gala is far more than an evening of sublime performance. It’s a rallying call for hope, an invitation to come together, and a celebration of the enduring mission at the heart of St James’s, namely, to serve those most in need. Funds raised through the gala support vital outreach programmes standing with people facing homelessness, mental health challenges, social isolation, and those navigating life after prison.
A Living Legacy of Music and Mission
St James’s has long been a sanctuary not only for the soul but for the arts. Its walls have echoed with the music of Handel—who played the organ here—and have since welcomed more recent icons such as Patti Smith, Emili Sande, Adele and Nicola Benedetti. Today, the church continues to be a powerhouse of musical opportunity, supporting thousands of young musicians each year through our celebrated Recital series.
St James’s took a bold step forward in cementing its musical legacy with the launch of Christmas for All. Designed as both a celebration of the season and a showcase of emerging choral excellence, the event introduced the St James’s Songbook, a growing collection of newly commissioned Christmas works by some of the UK’s most exciting contemporary composers.
Each year, a new composer is invited to contribute a choral work, breathing fresh life into the sacred musical traditions of Christmas. Sarah MacDonald, Will Todd, Deborah Wiseman, and Kerensa Briggs have all been commissioned. This year, the church welcomes the work of Lucy Walker, whose commission promises to be another shining jewel in this evolving crown. Over time, the Songbook will make a significant contribution to the contemporary sacred music repertoire.
A Place for Everyone
The magic of the Gala lies not only in the music or the grandeur of its setting—it lies in the spirit that animates it. St James’s is a place where everyone is welcome, people of all faiths or none. It’s an inclusive, diverse community where compassion is practised daily and hope is not just preached but lived.
That hope is at the very heart of Christmas for All. In celebrating the birth of Christ, the concert becomes a reminder of the power of presence, of standing alongside those who are too often forgotten, and of creating space—both literally and figuratively—for healing, connection, and joy.
The Soundtrack of Compassion
As audiences gather once more beneath the 17th-century ceiling of St James’s this December, they become part of something larger—a living tradition that spans centuries, and a vision for the future that sings of justice, dignity and love.
So, whether you come for the music, the mission, or the moment, the Christmas for All Gala Concert promises an unforgettable evening—one that honours the past, uplifts the present, and gives voice to a more hopeful future.
