St James' Church, Enfield Highway facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St James' Church, Enfield Highway |
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| Location | 115 Hertford Road, Enfield, Middlesex |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Churchmanship | Broad and Central |
| Website | www.stjameschurch.cc |
| History | |
| Founded | 1831 |
| Architecture | |
| Architect(s) | William Conrad Lochner |
| Style | Commissioners' Gothic |
| Years built | 1831 |
| Administration | |
| Parish | St James with St Barnabas, Enfield Highway and Brimsdown |
| Deanery | Enfield |
| Archdeaconry | Hampstead |
| Diocese | London |
St James' Church, located in Enfield Highway, London, is a busy Anglican church. It's a local church for the area, part of the larger Church of England family. It serves the communities of Enfield Highway and Brimsdown.
History
How It Started
St James' Church was the first new Anglican church built in Enfield, besides the main parish church. People raised money to build it, and Woodham Connop donated the land. It was opened and blessed on October 15, 1831, by the Bishop of London, Charles Blomfield.
In 1833, a special area was set aside for the church. This area covered the eastern part of the parish. By 1845, the church was allowed to hold weddings.
Building the Church
The church was designed by an architect named William Conrad Lochner. He also designed a similar church in Hackney. St James' was built using brick and stone. It had a simple "Commissioners' Gothic" style, with side sections and a tower at the west end.
However, the church soon had problems. In 1841, a magazine reported that the roof was in danger of falling. This was because the wooden beams were rotting. They had been placed directly onto damp brickwork, which was not a good building practice.
Church Leaders
The first person in charge of the church was T.W. Thirlwall. After him came Charles Warren and J.R. Nicholl. In 1841, John Fuller Russell became the leader. He stayed until 1854. Russell was a writer about religious topics. He also collected early religious art.
Changes Over Time
In 1864, a large chancel was added to the church. A chancel is the part of the church where the altar is located. This addition was paid for by the Rev J. Harman, in memory of his wife.
In 1967, a fire badly damaged the east end of the church. During the repairs, many changes were made. The arch leading to the chancel was removed. The sanctuary, which is the most sacred part of the church, was also made larger.
Today, the area served by St James' Church is very large. It has over 26,900 people living in Enfield Highway and Brimsdown. This makes it one of the biggest church areas in England. The church building itself is important. It has been given a Grade II listed building status by English Heritage. This means it is a building of special historical or architectural interest.
