For more than 800 years a church has stood on the site of St James’. The church is not only an important part of Weybridge’s architectural heritage, but also a beautiful landmark that gives Weybridge its unique character.
Since the formation of the Association in 1988, the Friends of St James’ (FOSJ) have raised over £200,000 towards church building / fabric and essential maintenance projects.
For an application form to join please contact Carole Merritt for more information – zcj.merritt@btinternet.com – 01932 845174.
Autumn 2025 Fundraising
We would now like to offer you another opportunity to de-clutter at home whilst at the same time helping to preserve our beautiful church. There is a huge range of items that are acceptable, from jewellery and vintage handbags to Apple products and video games. Read more at: Antique buyers | Sell antiques online | Vintage Cash Cow. Please bring your items to Lindy at church on any Sunday up to 26 October. Thank you!
Saturday 22nd November 2025
Entertainment of a very different kind – magic! Yes, a magician.
Andy Field is a magician who specialises in close-up magic. He will come to each table in turn – you couldn’t get nearer to the action than that – but he will still amaze, bewilder and challenge you! There will be a buffet supper, to which each table will be invited in turn depending on where our roving magician is. You’ll need a clear space with no distractions to be able to watch him closely!
We will also have some other magic-themed activities going on to keep you amused, plus of course the bar and the raffle, which always help to augment the funds raised.
Our evening of fun starts at 7.30 pm (doors open at 7 pm). Tickets for this novel, exciting and sociable ‘magical supper’ event are £20, available from The Parish Centre on a Sunday (11.15 am during refreshments) or by ringing 01932 845174 (if not answered, please leave your name and number on the answerphone) or call 07809 264700. Payment can be made in person by cash or card reader. If ordering by phone, by BACS. Email Carole Merritt – zcj.merritt@btinternet.com for moe information. Please note, tickets in advance only, no sales on the night.
If you have any dietary restrictions, please make this clear when buying your ticket so that we can properly cater for you.
Sunday 30th November 2025
We will be holding another bottle Tombola, this time at Weybridge Christmas Festival and we hope you can help us in any way at all! The event runs from 12noon (after Sunday service) until 5pm, with Christingle in Church at 4pm. We are looking for volunteers to look after the stall and donations of more bottles would be much appreciated. Do come along to support this important fundraising and social event.
Sunday 8th February 2026
Proposed date for the AGM to take place, 11.30 am in the Parish Centre, small hall. All are welcome as we review the past year and look forward to the future.
Saturday 28th February 2026
Following her brilliant talk last year on ‘The Spymaster’, we’ve managed to book Dr. Helen Fry again. This time she will be telling us about the various roles that women played in WWI and II (especially in espionage) on war time exploits, usually featuring unsung heroes and heroines. If you missed her before, do look at her website: Dr Helen Fry Many of you will remember her fascinating ‘Spymaster’ talk in April 2023 and won’t want to miss her next visit. Booking details to follow later this year but do spread the word.
Update on support for projects at St James’ Church, Weybridge 2024/25
£40k in 2024 – Tower/Spire Pointing Project and the Parochial Church Council set aside this money in a Diocesan secure ‘restricted’ fund for this purpose. This donation from The Friends of St James’ followed recommendations for works to the Spire found in the 2024 Quinquennial Inspection Report. In Autumn 2024 the PCC appointed Wall Walkers to carry out a full and thorough inspection of the Tower and Spire, which identified some significant pointing and stone works are required. In early 2025, the PCC used its own funds to appoint the Church architect (John Bailey of Thomas Ford & Partners) to prepare a schedule of works, based on the report received. In late summer 2025, several specialist firms were invited to bid to complete this work. So far one bid has been received and a second is expected in mid October. Hopefully this will lay the groundwork for a faculty process to begin and fundraising for this essential work, with the PCC planning to use the 40k from The Friends of St James’ as the basis for matched funding. The PCC would like, if at all possible, to complete this work during 2026/2027, but that is dependent upon several factors including the final contractors diary and ability to secure matched/additional funding for this essential scheme of work. It is anticipated this work can be completed without the need for scaffolding significant areas of the Tower and Spire. This page will be updated with more information once the projected costs and other variables of this project are known.
£12k Radiators – Autumn 2025 – The Friends of St James are delighted to be able to support The Parochial Church Council in the second phase of essential church heating works. New radiators have been purchased, some being a direct replacement/modernisation of fans (these circulate heat more widely), with 3 new wall-fitted low level radiators for the North Aisle and one for the Lady Chapel (these sit at or just below chair height) and two low level old-school dark grey box iron radiators for All Souls. These are all due to be installed during November 2025. The work downstairs in the Crypt to replace the old boiler and equipment was completed in Spring 2025, following the discovery of essential repairs to the vaulted ceiling and a missing lintel to the external vestry wall, which delayed this project by more than 8 months. With the new boilers in operation, the interior of St James’ Church is already much warmer. In order that the stonework may be kept at between 10-12oC throughout the winter months, helping to reduce expansion and contraction, the heating system will run 24/7, and only be raised to 18oC for services/concerts/events. This is a managed approach to helping maintain the fabric of St James’ as recommended by heritage experts. The difference the new condensing boilers and pumping system has made is already evident – internal walls are dry and the congregation happy!
We hope you will agree these are two really important projects that care for the fabric of our beautiful Church. Thank you for your financial support, which has enabled the Friends to help in this way. Please do continue to support our efforts to raise funds that look after our Church and the iconic structure at the heart of Weybridge Town Centre – our local landmark, loved by many.