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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
World cuisine, served fresh – Every weekday lunchtime
From local and traditional specialities, to international delights, our market proudly showcases a distinct selection of the capital’s small businesses offering the finest street food.
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 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.
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
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Hear from Daniel Norris as he reflects on an ancient Celtic hymn as we celebrate the feast day of Saint Patrick.
This week we celebrate the feast day of Saint Patrick.
The ancient Celtic hymn known as Saint Patrick’s Breastplate, attributed to Saint Patrick himself, begins, ‘I bind unto myself today, the Strong Name of the Trinity’. This hymn is a morning celebration, a chorus of confidence as we get ready to meet the challenges of each new day and seeks to remind us of the protection and defence that is afforded to us by Christ incarnate who is with, behind, before, besides, above, below and within us.
Today is never just a repetition of yesterday. Each new morning is a fresh beginning as we embark once again upon an unknown path with its opportunities, possibilities, challenges and dangers. Whether we greet the new day with enthusiastic excitement, anxiety and fear or ambivalence, the Christian pilgrim is reminded that we do not travel alone and we do not travel unequipped. We are encircled and caught up in the everlasting love of God the Trinity who dances in creation.
Paul writing to the Ephesians encouraged pilgrims to ‘put on the full amour of God’. With a belt of truth, a breastplate of righteousness, shoes ready to proclaim peace, a shield of faith, a helmet of salvation and the word of God as a sword, the Christian pilgrim has everything that they need to feel secure in meeting the challenges of the day – a vast range of resources that are ready for our use as we set out on our daily pilgrimage.
How do you prepare for each day? Are you able to take some time, however short, to invoke the Strong Name of the Trinity? To dedicate the day ahead to God, creator of the universe and to be present to God’s presence with you and in creation?
As we journey through the season of Lent and we face the current reality of war in Europe, perhaps this ancient hymn of St Patrick can remind us of the eternal truth of the width, depth and breadth of the love that God has for the whole of creation, a love that binds itself to creation and invites us to be held. Whether the coming day requires us to be alone or together, to work or to rest, to fight or defend, to travel or flee, to welcome or host, to live or to die, we can do so in the strength, love and peace of God who is Creator, Christ and Holy Spirit.
May the prayer of St Patrick be ours today.
Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me
Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit, Christ when I arise,
Christ in the heart of everyone who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,
Christ in every eye that sees me,
Christ in every ear that hears me.
Amen.
