On Prebend Street since 1875
A notable local landmark, St James’ Church, celebrates its 140th birthday next year. It was consecrated on 5 May 1875, having been built by F D Porter, chief architect of the Company of Clothworkers.
The Clothworkers, one of the City livery companies, once owned much of the land in our area, and established St James’ to meet the needs of residents of their estates built from the 1840s onwards. It also served as the main place of worship for the Clothworkers’ Company, replacing the much older St James’ in the Wall, Cripplegate, also known as Lambe’s Chapel.
William Lambe (or Lamb), a Gentleman of the Chapel Royal, became Master of the Clothworkers’ Company in 1569 and bequeathed the chapel to the Company on his death. There is a bust of him above the internal west door in today’s St James’, as well as four Flemish roundels from Lambe’s Chapel in the north window.
‘Our’ church is properly called St James with St Peter and St Philip, because it took over the parochial duties of St Philip’s Church (on the north-east corner of Arlington Square, demolished in 1954) and St Peter’s in Devonia Road, which closed for business in 1981 and now contains residential apartments.
Highlights of St James’ 140th anniversary year will include a special service on Sunday 10 May when the Dean of St Paul’s, the Very Rev Dr David Ison, has been invited to preach. During the summer there will be a major exhibition of the history of St James’ with special activities for child ren.
Plans are also in hand to refurbish the interior of the church and to extend its programme of music, theatre and the creative arts.
St James’, of course, is the home of the Islington Proms, and the programme for the 2015 series of concerts is well advanced. They will feature some of the best young talent from the London conservatoires, and for the first time will include a Pocket Prom, when a number of artists will perform light classical pieces to an audience sitting Glyndebourne-style with hampers of food and wine in the Vicarage garden. To receive advance notice of the 2015 Proms season, join the mailing list by emailing info@islingtonproms.org.