St James, Guernsey facts for kids
St James is a famous building in Saint Peter Port, Guernsey. It used to be a church, but it's now a busy place for concerts and meetings. You can find it on College Street, right across from Elizabeth College.
Contents
St James: A Special Place in Guernsey
From Church to Community Hub: Its Story
Building a New English Church
Back in October 1815, a man named Admiral James de Saumarez had a great idea. He wanted to build a church in Guernsey for the British soldiers stationed there. This church would hold services in English, unlike other churches on the island that used French.
The church was designed by John Wilson. It was finished in 1818 and cost almost £7,000 to build. For many years, it was also used as a chapel by the students of nearby Elizabeth College. The famous artist J. M. W. Turner even sketched it in 1832!
A New Life for St James
By 1970, the church was no longer used and started to fall apart. But in 1981, a group called The Friends of St James was formed. Their goal was to save and restore the building.
The States of Guernsey (Guernsey's government) agreed to pay for the repairs in 1983. The building was officially opened again on July 5, 1985, by the Duke of Kent. The amazing restoration work even won a Civic Trust Award in 1986!
In 2002, the Dorey Centre was added to St James. This new part includes meeting rooms, a café, and offices. It also provides space for art shows and can host special events like dinners and weddings. The beautiful Guernsey Millennium Tapestry is also kept here.
What You Can Find Inside St James
St James is now a modern and useful space with many different rooms:
- Whittaker Hall: This is the main hall, famous for its amazing sound quality. It's perfect for concerts! It can fit 576 people for shows or 217 for dinners.
- Dorey Room: This room can seat up to 90 people.
- Founders Room: A smaller room that can seat 35 people.
- Walter Room: This is a boardroom, often used for important meetings.
- Rothschild Room: Another boardroom, also used for meetings.
- Café St James: A place where you can grab a drink or a snack.
- Bailiwick of Guernsey Millennium Tapestry: A large, beautiful tapestry that tells the story of Guernsey's history.
See also
- St James website
- Guernsey Tapestry
