St James's, Spanish Place Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids St James' Church

51°31′5″N 0°9′9″W / 51.51806°N 0.15250°W / 51.51806; -0.15250
Location	London, W1
Country	United Kingdom
Denomination	Catholic
History
Dedication	Saint James the Greater and Saint Anne
Consecrated	1949
Architecture
Heritage designation	Grade II*
Architect(s)	Edward Goldie
Style	Neo-Gothic
Completed	1890
Specifications
Capacity	800
Length	195 feet
Width	92 feet
Height	67 feet
Materials	Stone and marble
Bells	1
Administration
Archdiocese	Westminster
Province	Westminster

St James' Church from Manchester Mews

St James' Church is a big Catholic church in London. It's located on George Street in Marylebone. The church is built in a style called English Gothic.

Even though it's on George Street now, it's still connected to Spanish Place. This is because the Spanish Embassy used to be nearby. It's also a very important historic building, known as a Grade II* listed building.

Where is St James' Church located?
What is the history of St James' Church?
What is the architecture of St James' Church like?
- The Chancel and Apse
- Important Statues
What kind of services are held at St James' Church?
Tell me about the church organ
How can I get to St James' Church?
See also

Where is St James' Church located?

You can find St James' Church on George Street in Marylebone. It's right behind the famous Wallace Collection and near Marylebone High Street.

What is the history of St James' Church?

The Cross of Saint James, a symbol of the Order of Santiago.

The story of St James' Church began a long time ago. During the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, the Spanish Ambassador used a chapel in London. This chapel was a safe place for English Catholics to worship. This was important because, at the time, Catholic worship was often restricted.

Later, the Spanish Embassy moved to Manchester Square. In the late 1700s, a new chapel was built there. This happened after new laws made it easier for Catholics to practice their faith. Many of the religious items you see in the church today came from this older chapel.

In 1827, the Spanish Embassy no longer officially owned the chapel. It was then given to the Catholic leaders in London. However, the church still remembers its Spanish roots. You can even see the personal flag of King Alfonso XIII of Spain inside!

How the New Church Was Built

The old chapel was on rented land, and the lease was running out. So, people started raising money to buy land and build a new church. It was hard to find a good spot in the area.

A story says that the priest, Canon William Barry, prayed a lot for a new site. Soon after, the land where the church stands today became available. It cost £30,000, which was exactly how much money had been collected!

Edward Goldie, whose great-grandfather designed the old chapel, won the competition to design the new church. The church opened in 1890, even though it wasn't fully finished yet.

When Was the Church Officially Consecrated?

A church can only be "consecrated" (officially dedicated) once all its building debts are paid off. St James' Church was consecrated on July 28, 1949. This was a special moment because the priest, Bishop George Craven, was able to consecrate his own church.

The consecration had been planned twice before. It was delayed in 1935 because a high-ranking church leader, Cardinal Bourne, died. It was delayed again in 1940 because of the Second World War.

A Royal Visit

In 1908, something very rare happened at St James' Church. A special service was held for King Carlos I of Portugal after he passed away. King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra of England attended this service. This was the first time a British monarch had attended a Catholic mass since King James II in the 1600s!

What is the architecture of St James' Church like?

The beautiful interior of St James' Church.

Another view of the church's interior.

The church is built in an early Gothic style, mostly from stone. It looks very grand and tall. The arches inside are supported by pillars decorated with marble. Even though it's made of heavy stone, the design makes it feel light and open.

The main entrance on George Street looks like the entrance to Lichfield Cathedral. Many parts of the church are inspired by 13th-century English Gothic style. You can see similarities to famous buildings like Salisbury Cathedral and Westminster Abbey.

The Chancel and Apse

The chancel, which is the area around the altar, is very artistic. It has a high arch that reaches the roof. This part of the church reminds many people of beautiful French cathedrals.

The apse, a rounded part at the end of the chancel, has seven pointed arches. The middle panel shows the Holy Spirit coming down on Mary and the Apostles. The other panels have symbols related to the Holy Eucharist. High on the wall, you can see two gold crowns. These mark the places where King Alfonso and Queen Ena of Spain used to sit.

Above the altar, there's a special canopy with a crystal crown. This crown is lowered during certain services. The floor of the sanctuary (the area around the altar) is made of golden mosaic.

Important Statues

On one side of the church, there's a large marble statue of Saint James the Greater. He is the church's patron saint. He holds a sword and a palm, which are symbols of his martyrdom. He also carries a staff and a bread wallet, showing he was a pilgrim.

Across from him, near the center of the church, is a statue of Our Lady, Queen of Heaven. This statue is covered in gold leaf, except for her red shoes. It was made in 1840 and is believed to be one of the first statues put in a London church after the Reformation.

Normally, churches are built to face east. This is so the priest and people face the rising sun during morning services, which symbolizes Christ. However, St James' Church is built facing a different direction.

What kind of services are held at St James' Church?

The Vatican banner.

On Sundays and important feast days, the church holds a special solemn Mass in Latin. A professional choir sings, and the organ plays. They use both polyphony (many voices) and Gregorian chant (ancient church music). Sometimes, they also have Solemn Vespers, which are evening prayers.

On these days, Mass is also celebrated several times in English. There's also a Low Mass using an older form of the Roman Missal. The church is well-known for offering the Sacrament of Confession every day at set times. Other prayers and services, like Holy Hours, Benediction, the Rosary, and Stations of the Cross, also take place.

Tell me about the church organ

The church organ is located above the sanctuary. It was built in 1922 by A. Hunter & Son. The church has unique acoustics, which means the sound travels in a special way. Because of this, the organ was carefully tuned right inside the church. It still sounds exactly as it was designed.

Hunter built many great organs, but the one at St James' is considered one of his best. Some pipes from an even older organ (from the 1700s) were used in this new one. The current organ has 53 stops, which control different sounds, and can be played using three keyboards and pedals. You can find more details about the organ online here.