St James's Church, Clerkenwell facts for kids
St James Church, Clerkenwell is an Anglican church located in Clerkenwell, a part of London, England. It has a long and interesting history, stretching back many centuries.
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History of St James Church
The First Church: A Nunnery (c. 1100–1539)
The area of Clerkenwell is named after its natural springs. Long ago, the parish clerks of London used to perform special plays based on Bible stories here. These plays were sometimes even watched by kings and queens!
Around the year 1100, a nobleman named Jordan Briset started a nunnery (a place where nuns live and worship) dedicated to St Mary. This nunnery became very rich and important. It even had a special place for pilgrims (people who travel for religious reasons) at Muswell Hill.
The Old St James Church (1540–1788)
During the time of King Henry VIII, the nunnery was closed down. Its church, which was also known as St James, then became the main church for the local people. The people of the parish (the church's local area) gained the right to choose their own vicar (the church leader). This was quite unusual and led to exciting elections, much like political elections today!
In 1596, the famous writer George Peele was buried here. Later, in 1623, the church's tall steeple fell down twice but was successfully rebuilt.
A very interesting event happened in 1632: Pocahontas and John Rolfe's son, Thomas Rolfe, got married in this church. He married Elizabeth Washington, and they had a daughter named Anne. Sadly, Elizabeth died soon after Anne was born. Thomas Rolfe later returned to Jamestown, Virginia, leaving his daughter with his cousin.
Other famous writers, Thomas Dekker (in 1632) and Thomas Heywood (in 1641), are also believed to be buried at St James. In 1737, a man named Matthew King, who was connected to the famous Dick Turpin, was buried here.
The New St James Church (1792–Present)
By 1788, the old church was quite old and a bit messy, as it had been changed many times over the years. So, it was decided to build a brand new church. Money was raised, and a local architect named James Carr designed the new building. The new church was officially opened in 1792.
The church was designed to be a great place for preaching. Later, in 1822, upper galleries were added for children from the Sunday School, which started in 1807. Parts of these galleries were also for poorer people.
The church's tower and spire were repaired in 1849. Inside, you can see a special curved wall at the west end, designed to help with sound. The beautiful stained glass windows at the east end were added in 1863.
The church has a wonderful organ, built in 1792. It has been repaired and updated over the years, but much of the original work is still there. You can also hear a lovely set of eight bells in the tower, which date from 1791.
In the 19th century, a vicar named Robert Maguire was very important. He oversaw many improvements to the church building.
The space under the church, called the crypt, was once used for burials. In the early 1900s, many coffins were moved, and the crypt was turned into a large hall. This new hall was opened in 1912 by Princess Marie Louise of Schleswig-Holstein. It has been updated several times since then and is now a useful space for the church and the community.
Over the 20th century, two other local church areas, St John and St Peter, joined back with St James. St Peter's church was built to remember the Smithfield Martyrs (people who died for their beliefs a long time ago). Although St Peter's church was damaged in a war and later taken down, St James Church still has a memorial to these martyrs.
Special Features of the Church
The church today still has many interesting things from its past:
- The communion table and rail are original parts of the church. They are curved and made of mahogany wood.
- A wooden figure of St James, which used to be above a poor box in the old church, is now above the west door.
- You can find several memorials from the old church. These were saved and placed in the new church and its porch.
- Inside the church, you can see:
- A wall tablet for William Wood, a famous archer who died in 1691.
- A large wall tablet for Elizabeth, Countess Dowager of Exeter, which tells about her important family.
- A brass plate from the 1500s for John Bell, Bishop of Worcester, who lived in Clerkenwell.
- In the porch, you can find memorials to:
- Gilbert Burnet, a Bishop of Salisbury and a well-known writer, who died in 1714.
- Henry Penton, who died in 1714. His grandson later developed the area known as Pentonville.
- Thomas Crosse and his wife, from 1712, a sculpture by Roubiliac.
- Inside the church, you can see:
- The porch also has boards that list the many charities that still help older people in Clerkenwell today. These charities date back to the time of Queen Elizabeth I.
- Above the west door, you can see the royal arms of George III, made in 1792.
- The church has a memorial to the victims of the "Fenian Conspiracy." This was an event where an explosion happened near the church during an escape attempt from a nearby prison, causing deaths and injuries.
- There is also a modern memorial inside the church to 66 martyrs from the Smithfield Fires, from the years 1400 to 1558. This is in a doorway called the Martyrs Door.
St James Church Today
Today, the church is led by Rev. Mark Jackson. In 2018, a new initiative called ‘Inspire London’ joined with St James Clerkenwell, forming the church as it is known today: Inspire Saint James Clerkenwell.
The Crypt Under the Church
The crypt, which is the space underneath the church, was made into a usable area in 1912. It has a main room, a side room, and a kitchen. The main room has a beautiful vaulted brick ceiling and is used by the church and the local community.
Because of its great design and location in London, the crypt is a popular place for different events. It is used for art shows, parties, conferences, and even wedding receptions. It has also been a filming location for several movies and TV shows, including an episode of the BBC's Songs of Praise, Katie Melua's music video "Two Bare Feet”, the 2002 film About A Boy, the 2018 film Holmes & Watson, and Black Earth Rising.
