St James's Church, Clerkenwell facts for kids
St James Church, Clerkenwell is an Anglican church in Clerkenwell, London, England. It has a long and interesting history.
Contents
A Look Back: The Church's Story
The First Church: St Mary's Nunnery (Around 1100–1539)
The area of Clerkenwell is known for its natural springs. These springs even gave the area its name! Long ago, in the 1100s, a nobleman named Jordan Briset started a nunnery (a home for nuns) here. It was called St Mary's. This nunnery became very rich and important over time.
The Old St James Church (1540–1788)
When King Henry VIII closed down the nunneries in England, the church building was taken over by the local people. They had already been using part of it. The church was then dedicated to St James.
Unlike other churches, the people of Clerkenwell got to choose their own vicar (the church leader). This was a big deal, like a mini-election! This tradition continued for a long time.
Famous People Connected to the Old Church
Many interesting people were connected to the old church:
- In 1596, the writer George Peele was buried here.
- In 1623, the church's tall steeple fell down twice! But it was rebuilt.
- Pocahontas and John Rolfe's son, Thomas Rolfe, got married here in 1632. He later returned to Jamestown, Virginia, leaving his daughter, Anne, with family.
- It's thought that writers Thomas Dekker (1632) and Thomas Heywood (1641) were also buried here.
- In 1737, a man named Matthew King, who was linked to the famous highwayman Dick Turpin, was buried at St James.
The New St James Church (1792–Present)
By 1788, the old church was quite old and looked a bit messy. So, a special law was passed to build a brand new church. The money for this came from selling special investments.
The new church was designed by James Carr, a local architect. He created a beautiful building, perfect for preaching, with details inspired by famous architects like Christopher Wren. The new church opened in 1792.
Inside the New Church
- In 1822, more seating was added for children from the Sunday School.
- The church has a special curved wall at the back that helps with the sound.
- The beautiful stained glass windows at the front were added in 1863.
- The organ, built in 1792, is still mostly original. It has lovely carved details.
- The tower has a set of eight bells that date back to 1791.
Recent History
The church's crypt (an underground area) was used for burials long ago. In 1912, it was made into a large hall. This hall has been updated several times and is now used by the church and the local community.
Over the years, other local churches, St John and St Peter, joined back with St James. St Peter's church was damaged in a war and later taken down, but St James still has a memorial to the Smithfield Martyrs who were remembered there.
Special Features of the Church
The church has many things that remind us of its long history:
- The communion table and rail are original parts of the church.
- A wooden figure of St James, which was in the old church, is now above the west door.
- You can see several old monuments and plaques from the first church. These include:
- A memorial for William Wood, a famous archer who died in 1691.
- A large plaque for Elizabeth, Countess Dowager of Exeter, showing her important family.
- A brass plaque from the 1500s for John Bell, Bishop of Worcester, who lived in Clerkenwell.
- In the church porch, you can find memorials to:
- Gilbert Burnet, a famous writer and preacher who died in 1714.
- Henry Penton, who died in 1714. His grandson helped develop the area now called Pentonville.
- Thomas Crosse and his wife, from 1712, a sculpture by Roubiliac.
- The porch also has boards listing old charities that still help older people in Clerkenwell.
- Above the west door are the royal arms of George III, made in 1792.
- The church has a memorial for the victims of a historical event near Clerkenwell Prison that caused many injuries.
- There's a modern memorial inside the church to 66 martyrs from the Smithfield Fires. This is in a blocked-up doorway called the "Martyrs Door."
St James Church Today
Today, the church is led by Rev. Mark Jackson. In 2018, the church joined with a special project called ‘Inspire London’ to form Inspire Saint James Clerkenwell. The church continues to be an active part of the community.
The Crypt: An Underground Space
The Crypt is the large underground area beneath the church. It was made into a usable space in 1912. It has a main room, a side room, and a kitchen. The main room has a cool brick ceiling and wooden floors.
Because it's so unique and in the heart of London, the crypt is a popular place for events. It has been used for filming many times, including for the TV show Songs of Praise, a music video for Katie Melua, and movies like About A Boy, Holmes & Watson, and Black Earth Rising.
