St James' Church, Forest Gate facts for kids

St James' Church in Forest Gate, east London, was once a significant place of worship. Its story began with a simple building made of iron around 1870. This first structure served a "conventional district," which is an area set aside for a new church community to grow.

The Church's Early Days

In 1881, a new church area, called a parish, was created for St James' Church. This new parish was formed from parts of the areas covered by Emmanuel Church, All Saints, and St John's. The very next year, in 1882, a permanent church building for St James' was finished. It even had an organ that was moved from another church, St Matthew's Church, Friday Street.

Changes and New Locations

The original St James' Church building was taken down in 1964. For the next two years, the church community, known as the congregation, met and worshipped in the chapel of the Durning Hall Community Centre. After this, the St James' parish joined with the parish of St John's.

A few years later, in 1968, a brand new church building was constructed for the St James' congregation. This new church was located at the northern end of St James Road.

The Final Chapter

The congregation of St James' Church made its final move in 2014, when they went to worship at St Paul's Church, Stratford. At the same time, the area that used to be St James' parish was transferred from St John's parish to St Saviour's parish.