Church Of St James The Less

Church of St James the Less

This church was built in 1840–2 by the architect Lewis Vulliamy. It stands on St James Avenue in Bethnal Green, one of many Anglican churches built in east London during the early Victorian period to serve the rapidly expanding population. The original building cost £4,885, of which £500 was provided by the Church Building Commissioners. It was designed to seat 1,133 people, with 645 free seats.

The church suffered serious war damage in 1940 and was substantially reconstructed in 1960–1 by J. Antony Lewis. The reconstruction involved significant changes to the building's appearance and structure.

Exterior

The church was originally built in a round-arched revival style, but its character has been profoundly altered. The distinctive Italianate steeple remains intact. The body of the building was lowered in height, and the west end was completely rebuilt following war damage.

The tower has five unequal storeys, each treated differently. The ground floor features the principal entrance: a doorway with three orders in the head, each with a roll-moulding, two nook shafts set beneath cushion capitals, and a carved tympanum in quasi-Byzantine style depicting a peacock and a dove, signed by Woodford RA. The first floor contains large round-arched windows with shafts. The second and third storeys display rows of differently treated arcades, while the belfry stage has pairs of tall round-arched lights. The spire is a brick pyramid with light-coloured bricks at the corners and a spine of matching bricks running up the middle of each face.

The nave originally had two storeys, accommodating galleries, but was reduced in height in 1960–1. It now comprises seven bays with single round-arched windows in each bay, separated by brick pilasters. The roof ridge of the nave and chancel now continues through at the same height. The short chancel has a three-sided apse with single-light windows on each face.

The west end, partly embraced on the south side by the tower, was rebuilt in 1960–1 with a large glazed centre section stretching nearly to the ground. This comprises seven lights with vertical glazed strips and horizontal bands of lozenges.

The materials reflect the two phases of construction: stock brick with limestone dressings for the original 1840s work, and buff brick for the 1960s rebuilt sections. Clay tile roofs cover the church, with a flat roof on the adjacent parish centre, which is constructed in red brick.

Interior

The principal surviving feature from the original church is the chancel arch, which has three orders with scalloped capitals and engaged shafts. The 1960–1 reconstruction introduced arched reinforced concrete trusses of a type commonly used in churches of that period, dividing the nave into three-and-a-half bays. The walls are plastered and painted cream, with wooden block flooring.

The furnishings date from the 1960–1 reconstruction and are plain and functional. The modern stained glass is by Keith New and has been described as excellent.

Setting and Associated Buildings

A two-and-a-half storey brick vicarage stands to the north of the church, with railings, gates, and gate piers in front. To the south is the parish centre.

History of the Architect

Lewis Vulliamy (1792–1871) was a London-based architect and former pupil of Sir Robert Smirke. He won the Royal Academy Silver Medal in 1810 and the Gold Medal in 1813, establishing his practice around 1822. His work was geographically widespread, extending from County Durham to Somerset and from Norfolk to Gloucestershire.