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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
Under the theme ‘Imagine the World to be Different’, our garden at RHS Chelsea Flower Show encourages visitors to cherish the earth and one another.
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. This is a place for everyone who’s wondering about life’s big questions and striving for a better world.
We host a year-round cultural programme encompassing music, visual art and spoken word, drawing on St James’s rich cultural history including artists, writers and musicians Mary Beale, Mary Delany, William Blake, Ottobah Cugoano and Leopold Stokowski.
We try to put our faith into action by educating ourselves and speaking out on issues of injustice, especially concerning refugees, asylum, earth and racial justice, and LGBTQ+ issues.
We aspire to be a home where everyone can belong. We’re known locally and globally for our unique history and beauty, as well as faith in action, creativity and the arts, and a commitment to social and environmental justice.
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 us £3,500 per day to enable us to keep our door open to all who need us
We know that spiritual sustenance comes in many forms: we hope you enjoy this one. £12 from the sale of each bottle will go directly to St James’s, Charity No. 1133048
St James's Church 197 Piccadilly London W1J 9LL
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‘who gave wood the loose and airy lightness of flowers…’
Earlier this year we launched two films celebrating the cultural heritage of St James’s Church, Piccadilly. Featuring the work of woodcarver Grinling Gibbons and poet William Blake, the films were made possible with support from the National Lottery Heritage fund.
The first film, Grinling Gibbons the Michelangelo of Woodcarving features the incomparable reredos at St James’s along with the font and organ case. Gibbons is probably England’s most famous woodcarver of all time. From 1671 to 1721 he molded and shaped wood into the most memorable creations.
His trademark baroque sculptures are instantly recognisable: a cascade of flowers, fruits, leaves, fish and birds that captivate the viewer with their intricacy.
In an exceptional career, Gibbons was appointed as master carver to George I and William III and collaborated with Sir Christopher Wren on numerous projects focusing on architectural decoration. His work can be seen at Hampton Court, Windsor Castle, St Paul’s Cathedral, the National Trust’s Petworth House and St James’s Church, Piccadilly.
Here at St James’s in central London, we have three unique examples of Gibbons’ work: a marble font (where William Blake was baptised), a limewood reredos and an organ case.
To explore the power of these sculptures, St James’s has filmed curators, a sculptor, a woodcarver and a master carver discussing Gibbons’ enduring legacy in the 21st century. Join leading curators from the Wallace Collection, Royal Academy and Victoria and Albert Museum for a film about England’s most eminent woodcarver.
Contributors to the film:
