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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
Saturday 23 May
A walk over spectacular Surrey heathland from Haslemere to Witley station – about 9 miles – with lunch surrounded by a paddock of horses.
Monday’s 1 June – 27 July, 6.30-7.30pm on Zoom
A new online weekly Bible series co-hosted by The Revd Lucy Winkett and The Revd Dr Ayla Lepine will explore stories of pilgrimage throughout Scripture.
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
Dee Hetherington reflects on how giving of money, time and self has become a deeply personal and prayerful expression of faith, moving from routine obligation to a meaningful offering.
I used to feel irritation that my worship was being disturbed by the passing of the offering basket. I was often caught up in the moment and would pass the basket on quickly. I can become overwhelmed by requests from all the worthy organisations trying to get me to give money, so I often switch off when asked to give. Giving to church is different, though, isn’t it?
When I became a Christian in 1988, I presumed that the church needed money to carry out its duties in serving the community, to replace light bulbs, pay the staff, and mend parts of the building. So it was natural for me to set aside money each week to give. My giving also included my time, volunteering with those needing help after a mental health crisis and with homeless under-25s. I thanked God for my car and my ability to afford to run it. I was able to drive people to meetings so they were not isolated.
This practice of thanking God for what I had developed over time. Using what I had been given wisely (or not, at times) was something given to me by God, wasn’t it? So I was giving back what was already God’s. After visiting Iona and the Northumbrian Community, I started putting this into practice more intentionally as part of my faith. Each year I would pray about “giving back”. I would say the Methodist Covenant Prayer at the start of the year and physically place into a basket things representing what I owned—such as my car and house keys, bank statements, and symbols of who I am and my gifts. Sometimes I would do this in a group, or on my own. This is actually quite difficult to do, and I still find it a challenge.
The giving of money means that people who are organised take a Gift Aid envelope home each week to put in the basket the following Sunday, or, as I do (which is less hassle), set up regular giving. I have recently changed from ChurchSuite to Donorfy. I can still alter the amount if I have a month of unexpected expense. The church can also plan better if they know what income is coming.
It is very easy to think that once it is set up, you don’t need to do anything else—you have done your bit—and not think about what your money is actually helping. It provides the basics: heating and lighting, as well as support for the homeless. We serve Sunday breakfast so people can come into the warm and enjoy hot, cooked food, as well as fellowship. We are open seven days a week, providing a place of sanctuary.
When I come as a weekday welcomer, I see people who just want to sit and “be”, as well as those who want to know about the history. This would not be possible if we did not give our money as well as our time. I find I need to offer my regular giving to God not only at the beginning of the year but during the year as well. Should I increase it or not? I do this not to criticise myself but to keep it prayerful.
At St James, I see people who have been “stripped bare” physically and mentally. I see this in varying degrees, and I include myself. It could be those seeking asylum or people in difficult situations. I know my monetary giving makes a difference, alongside my time and love. At the Eucharist, the celebrant sometimes says, “history and hurt can still dismember us”. This reminds me how fragile life can be.
A few years ago, I felt it was right to give up my home for a few months to a family from Ukraine. This was a personal journey of faith, deepening my understanding that giving is a very personal spiritual act. It can feel a bit out of sync during a hymn in a service, but where else would you have it?
The Giving Team at St James’s Picadilly introduced some of us to Henri J. M. Nouwen’s book The Spirituality of Fundraising. This deepened my understanding.
Recently, we introduced the plate at the service, where the welcomer places the offering of money on a plate held by the server, and it is blessed by the celebrant. This led me to want to find out why we do this.
So, are we collecting money or taking an offering? I leave this open to your response.
I often watch visitors searching for money as the baskets are passed along the pews. Different cultures vary in how money is collected, so it’s often the unspoken part. Could we use this time of offering to offer our thanksgiving and love into the basket along with our money? Although we really do need your money—so don’t stop.
One of my joys of being a churchwarden is noticing people who are “wrestling”. This was the case as we were celebrating Ascension this year. They came in late, with head bowed and eyes searching. I directed them to a seat and gave them a service sheet. Later, I asked if they wanted to join the communion; their response was, “I want to say thank you.” I said, “Well, come down with me,” which they did. At times like this, I am thankful that I can give back not just my money but something deeper. I don’t always fully grasp it, but I think you might call it an offering.
