St James the Greater, Leicester facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St James the Greater, Leicester |
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St James the Greater, Leicester
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| 52°37′24.7″N 1°06′54.75″W / 52.623528°N 1.1152083°W | |
| Location | Leicester |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Website | dlibitum.co.uk/sjg |
| History | |
| Dedication | St James the Greater |
| Consecrated | 25 July 1901 |
| Architecture | |
| Heritage designation | Grade II* listed |
| Architect(s) | Henry L Goddard |
| Groundbreaking | 28 October 1899 |
| Completed | 24 September 1914 |
| Administration | |
| Parish | St James, Leicester |
| Deanery | City of Leicester |
| Archdeaconry | Leicester |
| Diocese | Diocese of Leicester |
St James the Greater, Leicester is a beautiful and historic parish church in Leicester, England. It belongs to the Church of England. This church is very special because it is a Grade II* listed building. This means it's an important historical site. You can find it south of Leicester city centre, right on London Road (the A6), across from Victoria Park.
Contents
History of the Church
Building a Permanent Home
The church started in 1881 as a "daughter church" of St Peter's Church, Leicester. This means it was a new church created to serve a growing community. At first, it was just a temporary wooden building.
But after ten years, more and more people wanted to attend. So, the church decided to build a permanent, much bigger church. They chose an architect named Henry Langton Goddard from Leicester to design it.
Italian Inspiration
A bishop named Mandell Creighton suggested that Goddard visit churches in northern Italy. Bishop Creighton wanted the new St James church to be very impressive. He believed its design should show how important it was to Leicester.
After his trip, Goddard used ideas from Torcello Cathedral near Venice for the outside of St James. For the inside, he got ideas from churches in Venice and Florence.
Construction and Dedication
The first stone for the new church was laid on October 28, 1899. This is called the "foundation stone." The church was officially opened and blessed on July 25, 1901. This ceremony is known as "consecration."
The front part of the church, called the west front, was finished later. Work on it happened between 1911 and 1914. It was officially dedicated by Bishop Edward Carr Glyn on September 24, 1914.
Becoming Its Own Parish
On June 25, 1918, St James the Greater became its own "parish." This meant it was no longer a daughter church. It had its own area and its own community to serve.
Saving the Church
In the late 1950s, the Diocese of Leicester thought about closing the church. This was because fewer people were attending services. But in 1959, a new Reverend named Lawrence Jackson arrived.
Reverend Jackson was very good at his job. He managed to bring many people back to the church. By the time he moved to Coventry in 1965, St James had one of the largest church groups in the area.
Today, St James the Greater still has many active members. It hosts different events and has two church halls. It remains one of the most well-known churches in Leicester.
The Church Organ
Inside the church, there is a beautiful pipe organ. It was built by Stephen Taylor. This organ is so special that it is listed on the National Pipe Organ Register.
