Imagine Sydney’s oldest church still standing tall. That’s St James Church. It is more than just a building. It is a living testament to Sydney’s history.
St James Church stands on King Street. It is in the heart of the city. Governor Lachlan Macquarie commissioned its construction in 1819. He entrusted the design to Francis Greenway. Greenway was a convict architect. Convict labour built the church.
Originally, it was intended to be a courthouse. Plans changed. Commissioner John Bigge intervened. He suggested converting it into a church. The steeple was added. The adjacent school buildings became the courthouse. St James Church was consecrated in 1824. Senior Chaplain Samuel Marsden performed the ceremony.
Before St James Church existed, St Philip’s Church served Sydney’s growing population. St James Church quickly became the center of official church activity. It could hold more people. Clergy meetings and ordinations occurred there.
In the 19th century, morality was a concern. Establishing churches was a way to combat immorality. Churches and education were essential. Richard Hill was St James Church’s first rector. He was energetic. He had progressive views on education. Hill started community projects. These included an infants’ school in the crypt and a Sunday School.
Back then, services focused on preaching. The interior reflected this. A triple-decker pulpit stood centrally. The service was led from there. The sermon was preached from the pulpit. Panels displayed the Lord’s Prayer, the Apostles’ Creed, and the Ten Commandments. Box pews faced each other. The western end had a gallery for convicts. Pews were rented to generate income. The poor sat in free seats.
St James Church faced a scandal in the late 1820s. Archdeacon Thomas Hobbes Scott clashed with parishioner Edward Smith Hall. Scott ordered Hall to vacate his pew. Hall refused. Constables boarded up the pew. Hall sued for libel after publishing an attack on the archdeacon.
John Verge made the first major alteration. He enclosed the south portico to create a vestry. Later, he constructed another vestry at the eastern end. Galleries were added. Ocular windows were pierced high in the walls. These windows lit the galleries.
Robert Allwood arrived in 1839. He served as rector for 44 years. Allwood supported the Oxford Movement. This movement stressed the historical continuity of the Church of England. It emphasized the importance of sacraments and liturgy.
In 1848, St James Church hosted a military funeral. There were 150 carriages. In 1878, Allwood officiated at a vice-regal wedding. Ten thousand onlookers cheered. Edmund Barton, Australia’s first Prime Minister, was baptized at St James Church.
The church faced financial challenges in the 1880s. The government considered resuming the site for a railway. Urgent restoration was needed. Varney Parkes replaced the old spire. He used pre-weathered copper.
William Carr Smith, a socialist, succeeded Jackson. He brought liturgical restoration. John H. Buckeridge transformed the interior. The altar became the focus. The chancel floor was raised. A mosaic floor and brasswork were added. Stained glass windows were installed. Double windows were placed to block traffic noise.
Throughout the 20th century, St James Church continued to serve the city. During World War II, the crypt served as a hostel for soldiers. The church confronted issues like violence and refugees. Its relationship with the legal community continued. Special services were held for the opening of the law term.
Today, St James Church continues its ministry. It engages with contemporary issues. It is an inclusive community. It welcomes all regardless of background. The church provides community service. This includes support for the homeless. It offers educational seminars.
St James Church celebrated the arrival of its new Bicentennial Pipe Organ in July 2024. It was designed and built by Dobson Pipe Organ Builders. The church also has the Chapel of the Holy Spirit. It has striking stained glass. The crypt contains the Children’s Chapel. It is decorated with murals. Memorials commemorate significant figures. St James Church is a treasure. It is a place of history, worship and community.