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 believe in a Church which welcomes and serves all people in the name of Jesus Christ; which is scripturally faithful; which seeks to proclaim the Gospel afresh for each generation; and which, in the power of the Holy Spirit, allows all people to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Jesus Christ.
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 Anglican Communion, 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.
The Five Marks of Mission express the Anglican Communion’s common commitment to, and understanding of, God’s holistic and integral mission. The mission of the Church is the mission of Christ.
At St James’ we take seriously our call to inclusive Christian discipleship as we:
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’s love and welcome, 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 at St James’, 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.
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.
St James’ Church is affiliated with the Major Churches Network.
The Ark 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, and a time of interactive songs and stories.
Wednesday Coffee & Chat follow is the 11am Said Eucharist.
Do drop into our Wednesday 11.30am Café in Church and say hello.
Runnymede Foodbank meet every week on a Thursday from 12.30 – 2:30pm in St James’ Church. Refreshments available.
Runnymede Foodbank | Helping Local People in Crisis
GROUPS AND ACTIVITIES AT ST JAMES’
Find our more about various groups, activities and history too!
Help in the prayer ministry of St James’ Church by praying with our community every day for the needs of our Parish and Weybridge Town Centre.
ECO CHURCH AT ST JAMES’
We use low energy LED Lighting inside and out and under carpet electric heating to provide warm spaces. We have recycling stations (blue bins), 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. Even our Cycle Racks are environmental in design. But there is much more to do so please do make suggestions.
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.
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. post re-ordering works, about half of the original pine Victorian pews have been retained, although they are not of great value.
CHURCH SEATING AND CAPACITY
There is seating for the regular congregation of approximately 240, some in fixed pews but also comfortable chairs that were added in 2024, and further additional chairs (60) are stored to increase this figure to 300 seated. In addition, the choir stalls will safely accommodate a further 30. (The total seated for concerts is 330).
Worship at St James’ today is within the liberal catholic tradition, using Common Worship order one, the Revised Common Lectionary and the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) translation of bible.
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. This is also our Emergency Meeting Point (Muster point). The church benefits from private, gated parking (permits only) and its close proximity to the main council controlled car park at Churchfields.
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. Projects for 2025/26 include new Church radiators, and external works including redecoration of all black paintwork, Spire/Tower re-pointing, new Church Street illuminated signage, ground surveys and creation of a new Garden of Remembrance.
CHURCHYARD & PRINCESS FREDERICA CHARLOTTE OF PRUSSIA – GRAVE
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 closed to new burials. Plans are in development to design and create a new garden for the burial of ashes in an area of the churchyard at the west end of the church building, adjacent to Church Lane. We hope to be applying for planning (Church faculty) by Spring 2026, but we will need to raise significant funds to pay for this important work.
The gra
ve of Princess Charlotte is located within the Churchyard at St James’ Church. The grave has been recently cleaned, and thanks to the generosity of a donor, the railings have been redecorated. You can find out more about Princess Charlotte, who once lived in Weybridge, at wiki/Princess_Frederica_Charlotte_of_Prussia
CCTV & Live Streaming
St James’ Church and halls complex is covered by CCTV. Please be aware that some services are live-streamed to Facebook and our own You Tube page.
www.youtube.com/channel/weybridge
www.facebook.com/stjamesweybridge
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.
Hire of the Parish Centre
To enquire about possible hire of St James’ Church or Halls, contact our Administrator Alyson Percival by email: parishadministrator@stjamesweybridge.org.uk
Or use our Contact us page and complete the Contact Us Form. Thank you.