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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
Visiting St James’s The Wren Project Explained Community & Social Impact Supporting the Project
Worship will continue at St Pancras Euston throughout the construction period, with both congregations sharing a common pattern of services.
The core weekly rhythm will be as follows: Sunday worship will centre on a main Eucharist at 11am, bringing both congregations together. From time to time, Choral Evensong will also be held on Sunday afternoons.
During the week, there will be a Sanctuary Eucharist on Tuesdays at either 6pm or 6.30pm, and a Wednesday lunchtime Eucharist at 1.15pm. Morning Prayer will be offered daily at St Pancras, and said Evening Prayer will take place on selected weekdays.
Additional services and gatherings will be organised as the shared life of the community develops during this period, but the above forms the core pattern of worship.
Some services are live streamed at St Pancras, and online access will be explored further during this period.
The church is expected to be closed for the first 15 months of the project (January 2027 – April 2028), subject to final contractor agreements. If the programme proceeds as planned, it will reopen on evenings and weekends from April 2028 to March 2029, before returning to its regular opening hours from April 2029 onwards.
Alongside a full restoration of the church’s interior, the project will introduce several key improvements. These include making the pews movable to allow flexible seating arrangements for different types of events, completing the internal lobby at the South Door, restoring the organ, and upgrading the heating system to a modern air source heat pump with underfloor heating.
Yes—positively. The aim is to enhance the atmosphere while carefully preserving the church’s character. The restoration will brighten and refresh the interior, bringing its heritage features more clearly into view and creating a more welcoming, uplifting space.
The introduction of flexible seating will also allow the space to be arranged in ways that better support a wide range of activities, from worship to concerts, improving the overall experience for all who attend.
Yes. The project will significantly increase both the number and quality of toilet facilities.
Concerts at St James’s will pause during construction (January 2027 – early 2029). A reduced programme will continue at St Pancras and other venues in the parish. The church remains committed to:
Supporting young musicians Maintaining free access to music where possible Continuing its musical identity throughout the project
Some off-street parking is available King’s Cross station has step-free access (Euston does not) St Pancras Church has step-free access and accessible toilets
Options are being explored for Redemption Roasters to relocate nearby during construction. Post-Wren café options will be explored during the pilgrimage period but, the construction scheme allows for a café or restaurant to be established on the ground floor of the Rectory building, with an entrance on Piccadilly.
A £24 million transformation to restore, adapt, and sustain St James’s for the future—improving accessibility, flexibility, and long-term viability while preserving its historic character.
In a fast-paced and unequal city, open and beautiful public spaces for reflection, encounter, and community are increasingly important. The current buildings, largely unchanged since 1954, are no longer fit for today’s needs. This project enables St James’s to:
Gather people more effectively Serve the community more fully Embody its values of inclusion, justice, and openness
Restoration of the historic church Flexible seating and improved facilities Sustainability upgrades Expanded and modernised buildings Redesigned and more accessible gardens
Approximately January 2027 to April 2029, including preparation and reopening phases.
Some elements (such as a garden pavilion) are not currently funded but are designed to be added in future if funding allows.
Air source heat pump Improved insulation Better energy efficiency Enhanced green spaces
Yes. Restoration will highlight and celebrate the building’s history, including both its 17th-century origins and its 1950s reconstruction.
Design choices will:
Lighten heavy finishes and reduce the heavy gold in decorative terms Respect both original and later architectural layers Preserve key historic features
A high-level timeline exists and will be made more widely accessible.
The project will:
Open up the site with new access routes Improve facilities for outreach and community programmes Increase the church’s ability to serve people experiencing hardship Provide better spaces for gathering, learning, and support
Yes. Outreach will continue through St Pancras and with local partners.
Yes, delivery methods and locations may change, but the commitment to these services will remain unchanged.
Yes. The project includes:
Improved kitchen and dining spaces Better meeting and counselling facilities More accessible environments overall
We will create opportunities to pause, reflect, discuss and learn together as we prepare for being a church on the move, our relocation, and the next phase of our ongoing transformation.
The project enables stronger long-term impact. Current facilities are outdated and limit what can be offered.
This investment ensures:
Outreach can grow and improve Services are delivered in dignified, accessible spaces The church can sustain its work for future generations
Fully wheelchair accessible Redesigned planting and seating New views and pathways across the site
Yes, with new entrances and improved circulation across the site.
Work will be carefully managed with local authorities to minimise disruption.
The project places demands on a relatively small team. Support structures are in place, including HR support and wellbeing resources, and these will continue as the project progresses.
St James’s welcomes all who engage with it—through worship, music, outreach, or simply visiting. The project has already broadened engagement, and this inclusive approach will continue.
Through a combination of:
Donations from individuals Trusts and foundations Support from those who value the church’s mission, heritage, and community work
Development focuses on long-term relationships, major gifts, and the Wren Project (including endowment building) Fundraising supports day-to-day operations, outreach, and core church activities Both functions work closely together.
Through:
Alternative income streams (e.g. advertising) Fundraising support Careful cost management
Yes—especially during closure when usual income sources are reduced. Regular giving will be crucial.
Yes, particularly ahead of relocation.
Share the story and values of St James’s Take part in services, events, and community life Volunteer where possible Commit to regular financial support
Yes. Opportunities will adapt during relocation and construction, especially supporting outreach and community continuity.
For the Wren Project, approximately £1 has been spent for every £10 raised—an excellent return.
Two phases:
Restore and improve the site to increase impact and income potential Build an endowment to reduce reliance on annual fundraising
Together, these aim to place the church on a more secure financial footing.
