St. James RC Church

Gazing upon St. James RC Church, can you sense the echoes of history whispering from its stones? St. James RC Church stands in George Street, a seemingly ordinary London street. Yet, its name, “Spanish Place,” hints at a fascinating past. The story begins in the turbulent times of Elizabeth I. The Bishops of Ely leased their palace and chapel in Ely Place to the Spanish Ambassador. This chapel, now St. Etheldreda’s Church, became a haven for English Catholics during a time of religious persecution. After the Restoration, the Spanish Embassy moved, eventually settling at Hertford House, now the Wallace Collection. There, in the late 18th century, a new chapel arose thanks to Joseph Bonomi and Thomas Hussey, a chaplain at the embassy. This chapel, built near Spanish Place and Charles Street (now George Street), became the predecessor of St. James RC Church. Many of the cherished objects within St. James today are legacies from this earlier chapel. In 1827, the official connection with Spain ended. The chapel passed to the London Vicariate. However, the Spanish legacy endures. King Alfonso XIII’s personal standard still hangs above the sacristy door, a tangible link to the church’s Spanish roots. The congregation remembers Spain’s role in establishing and maintaining their faith during difficult times. An unofficial bond with the Spanish Embassy continues to this day. The original chapel stood on leased land. Raising funds for a permanent home became a pressing concern. Canon William Barry, a devout Rector, offered one hundred Masses for the Holy Souls, praying for a suitable site. Soon after, a plot of land became available directly across from the old chapel. The cost? £30,000, the exact amount Barry and his predecessors had collected. It seemed like divine intervention. Edward Goldie, great-grandson of the original chapel’s architect, won the design competition. St. James RC Church, as we know it, opened its doors in 1890. The consecration, however, had to wait. Delayed by the death of Cardinal Bourne and then World War II, it finally took place in 1949. Bishop George Craven, the parish priest and rector, had the unique honor of consecrating his own church. While many of the old Spanish Chapel’s archives now reside in Spain, St. James RC Church safeguards baptismal and marriage records dating back to 1732. As you stand before St. James RC Church, remember its journey through history. From a refuge for Catholics in Elizabethan England to its enduring connection with Spain, this church stands as a testament to faith and resilience.