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, Enfield Highway, is an active Anglican church located on Hertford Road in Enfield Highway, Greater London. It is a parish church that serves the local community. The church is part of the Enfield deanery, the Hampstead archdeaconry, and the diocese of London.
Contents
A Look Back: The Church's History
Building the First Church
St James' was the very first Anglican church built in the parish of Enfield, besides the main parish church. It was built thanks to donations from many people. The land for the church was given by Woodham Connop.
The church was officially made sacred, or "consecrated," on October 15, 1831. This ceremony was led by the Bishop of London, Charles Blomfield. A special area, or "district," was given to the church on December 9, 1833. This area covered all of the parish east of a line 150 yards west of the main road from Edmonton to Cheshunt. The church was allowed to hold marriages starting in 1845.
The Architect and Early Design
The church was designed by William Conrad Lochner, who was a surveyor. He also designed a similar church in Hackney. St James' was built using brick with stone decorations. It had a simple "Commissioners' Gothic" style, which means it looked like older Gothic churches but was built in a simpler way. It included aisles and a tower at the west end.
Early Challenges and Repairs
Soon after it was built, the church started having problems with its structure. In 1841, a magazine called Ecclesiologist reported that the church was "dangerous." The heavy roof was threatening to fall because the wooden beams were rotting. This was due to them being placed directly on damp brickwork.
Important Leaders and Changes
The first leader of the church was T.W. Thirlwall. Later, in 1841, John Fuller Russell became the leader. Russell stayed at the church until 1854. He was a writer on religious topics and collected early religious art. In 1854, he published a book called Obedience to the Church in Things Ritual: Two Sermons Preached in St. James’s Church, Enfield Highway.
A large new part, called a "chancel," was added to the church in 1864. This 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. For example, the arch leading to the chancel was removed, and the "sanctuary" (the sacred area around the altar) was made larger.
St James' Church Today
Today, St James' Church serves a very large area. The local communities of Enfield Highway and Brimsdown have over 26,900 people. This makes it one of the biggest parishes in England. The church is also a "Grade II listed building." This means it is recognized by English Heritage as an important historical building that needs to be protected.
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