Our Values & Community
Welcome to St James’ Church at the heart of Weybridge Town Centre. We are an inclusive and intergenerational church family, the home of a Christian community which understands itself to be a sign of God’s love and healing for the world, with a welcome for all.
We are members of the Inclusive Church network: www.inclusive-church.org
Liberal Catholic Tradition, Anglican and Church of England
St James’ is part of the Church of England and the Diocese of Guildford. Our life and worship is rooted in the sacrament of the Eucharist, where bread and wine show the presence of Jesus Christ in the world.
You can visit the Diocese of Guildford and Church of England websites for more information.
At St James’ we aim to help all who come into contact with the Church find something of God, and to grow in faith, love and peace. Our worship usually follows a liturgical (set) pattern, we love music and we have a marvellous choir. You will be made very welcome, whether you come occasionally or often; you will find St James’ is a place to be yourself with God and others, where you are loved and encouraged and where many find deep faith and the joy of Christian fellowship.
The Parish Centre, situated next door to the Church, is used by many groups and is available for hire. For more information simply email our Administrator: stjamesweybridge@btinternet.com
St James’ Church – a hub for community life
There are many different groups, services and events which happen in and around St James’ Church, from concerts, to Civic Services, coffee mornings to flower arranging, all making use of our facilities including under carpet heated warm-hub spaces inside the church.
The Ark (incorporating Tots Praise) is a parent/carer and toddler group that meet in Church every Monday of term-time from 9 – 11:30am. Upon arrival there is toast for little ones, tea and coffee for parents/carers (do bring your re-usable cup!) and play, followed by a time of interactive songs and stories (Tots Praise).
Runnymede Foodbank meet every week on a Thursday from 12noon – 2:30pm. Refreshments are served.
Wednesday Coffee & Chat follows the 11am Said Eucharist.
Do drop into our Café and say hello.
USEFUL DOWNLOAD – Welcome Leaflet April 2025
Eco Church – Making a difference in Weybridge
At St James’ we are working hard to reduce our impact upon the environment and take seriously our need to tread lightly upon God’s creation, our planet and home. As part of 
our Church Development Plan (CDP) we have prioritised projects that help us reduce (and potentially in time eliminate) our carbon emissions. We now have LED Lighting inside and out, under carpet electric heating to provide warm spaces, recycling stations, a bug hotel and much more. We also use carbon-free electricity and run a Fruit and Veg exchange stall during summer months where people can help reduce waste by sharing their abundance with others.
You can find out more about the Eco Church movement at: www.ecochurch.arocha.org.uk
You can find out more about our plans for the future here. This document is kept under review by Weybridge PCC.
Church Development Plan (CDP) leaflet June 2024
ST JAMES’ CHURCH HISTORY
It is not known exactly how old the original church was, but it was believed to have been built sometime between 666 and 1175 meaning there may well have been a place of worship at the heart of Weybridge at the time of the Norman Conquest, with worship connected to Chertsey Abbey until the Reformation. Indeed Weybridge was a settlement recorded in Domesday Book, in the hundred of Elmbridge and the county of Surrey. In 1086 it only had a recorded population of 7 households, making Weybridge then one of the smallest 40% of settlements recorded.
Our Landmark Building
Built in 1848 to replace the earlier medieval Church, St James’ with its gothic appearance complete with sandstone dressings, is grade 2* listed and one of the earliest works of John Loughborough Pearson, the architect of Truro Cathedral.
St James’ Church is a beautiful and imposing building, with its gothic appearance complete with sandstone dressings and occupies a prominent position at the heart of Weybridge Town Centre. The LED floodlit spire, 150 feet high, is a local landmark.
The church building is fully accessible with automatic doors in through the north door (Church Street / churchyard / shops side) and a ramp up to the south door (Parish Centre / Churchfields Car Park side).
The interior of the church is particularly fine with many outstanding features including some beautiful stained glass. Two major features of the church include an organ built by Peter Collins in 1983, and a peal of eight bells, which were re-hung in 1989. There is a central font, near to the underneath of the Tower. There is seating for a congregation of approximately 360, some in fixed pews but also comfortable chairs that were added in 2024, and further additional chairs are stored to increase this figure to about 400 seated as an absolute maximum. In addition, the choir stalls plus chancel chairs will accommodate 65.
John Loughborough Pearson designed St James’ in four major phases, between 1848 and 1889, and encompasses the full range of the architect’s stylistic development from austere Early English inspiration to a richly ornate language. An additional south aisle was added by Pearson in 1864 (now known as All Souls Chapel). The building comprises nave, chancel, north and south aisles and the later south outer aisle. The internal layout was designed for high church liturgy, with richly decorated chancel and collegiate style choir stalls. About half of the original pine Victorian pews have been retained. Worship at St James’ today is liberal catholic, using Common Worship order one, the Revised Common Lectionary, NRSV bible and is inclusive and intergenerational.
Thanks to the generosity of many, and the hard work of the Friends of St James’, our church is generally well maintained and in good condition. It is next due for its quinquennial inspection in September 2028/9.
The churchyard is closed for burials and hence in the care of Elmbridge Borough Council. There is a Garden of Remembrance adjacent to the walls of the church, which was used for the interment of ashes, but is now full and plans are underway to create a new garden for the burial of ashes. To the east of the church part of the old Rectory garden now belongs to the parish and is used for parish activities and events.
The Parish Centre (next door – to the south of St James’ Church).
The Parish Centre (large hall) was built in 1966 and extended in 1997, and is fully accessible. It consists of an entrance foyer, a large hall with a stage and adjacent kitchen, a smaller hall, which can be divided, with its own small kitchen and toilets (including disabled and baby changing facilities). The Parish Centre is also home to our very busy parish office where our Administrator looks after hall bookings. The Parish Centre is available for hire and has a public entertainment licence.
St James’ Church and halls complex is covered by CCTV. The church benefits from private, gated parking (permits only) and its close proximity to the main council controlled car park at Churchfields.
To enquire about possible hire of St James’ Church or Halls, so contact our Administrator by email: