St James's Church London

St James's Church, Piccadilly, London

St James's Church, Piccadilly

St James's Church in Piccadilly, central London, is a historic church designed by Sir Christopher Wren.

Close to the Royal Academy of Arts and Burlington Arcade, the church contains the graves and memorials to several famous British people associated with the Royal Academy (RA).

History

The brick and Portland stone church is the work of Sir Christopher Wren, the architect of St Paul's Cathedral in the City. It was consecrated in 1684.

The outside pulpit was added later in 1902. Damaged during the Blitz in 1940, the church was restored in the 1950s. Southwood Garden in the churchyard stands as a memorial to the fortitude of Londoners during the aerial bombardment of World War II.

The church is a beacon of the progressive movement within the Anglican church. It supports several causes including asylum seekers, the LGBT community, the ordination of women and the poor.

In a similar vein, the church also holds concerts by both UK and international artists and Southwood Garden in the grounds of the church has become a venue for various contemporary art exhibitions. These have included installation by such artists as Swiss sculptor Hans Josephsohn and a replica section of the Israeli Security Wall by Justin Butcher, Geof Thompson, and Dean Willars. See the website below for details of frequent, free, lunchtime concerts.

Prominent people with graves or memorials within the church include the poet William Blake, the artist Robert Anning Bell, the physician Richard Bright, the Bluestocking Mary Delany, caricaturist James Gillray and zoologist William Yarrell.

Organ, St James's Church, Piccadilly, London, UK. — The organ, St James's Church, Piccadilly, London; © Hiro Taniguchi

Piccadilly Market

Piccadilly Market on the church grounds began in 1981 as part of the Piccadilly Arts Festival. It has been going strong ever since. It is now open six days a week and comprises a food market on Monday (11 am - 5 pm), an antiques and collectables Market on Tuesday, (10 am - 6 pm) and an arts and crafts market Wednesday to Saturday (10 am - 6 pm). Rents from the stall holders helps fund the upkeep of the church.

The interior of the church. — © Hiro Taniguchi; The interior of the church

Access - how to get to St James's Church

James's Church
197 Piccadilly
London W1J 9LL
Tel: 020 7734 4511
www: sjp.org.uk

The nearest tube stations are Piccadilly Circus (Piccadilly Line & Bakerloo Line) and Green Park (Victoria Line, Piccadilly Line and Jubilee Line). Piccadilly Circus is the nearest and less than 5 minutes away on foot.

London buses 6, 9, 14, 19, and 38 all stop outside the Royal Academy and Burlington Arcade close to the church.

There are several fine London pubs nearby including The Clarence, an 18th-century pub on Dover Street, and the Chequers Tavern on Duke Street near St James's Square.

Nearby

Located in central London, on Piccadilly, the church is close to several other places of interest.

Nearby is Fortnum & Mason, one of London's most famous department stores. Piccadilly Arcade is similar to Burlington Arcade and opened in 1909. It runs between Piccadilly and Jermyn Street - the latter famous for its high-end, bespoke tailors. Also close by is a large Waterstones bookstore and St James's Square.

Piccadilly Circus is opposite the tube station and also nearby is the iconic Ritz Hotel.

There are some very exclusive London hotels in the area including Brown's Hotel, Hotel Café Royal, The Cavendish and Hotel Sofitel London St James.

See a listing of London hotels near Piccadilly in this area of the city.