The Building

This church was built to fullfil a vow. Lieutenant Edward Close promised God that if he survived the Spanish Peninsular War he would build a church as an act of thanksgiving. Close survived, and the foundation stone was laid on January 2, 1837. The construction of sandstone walls, using locally quarried stone lined with handmade bricks, was carried out over a three year period. The church was completed in 1840 and consecrated on December 31, with St. James as its' Patron, by William Broughton, the first Bishop of Australia.

In the early 1860's the architect Edmond Blackette was engaged to design and implement additions and changes to the building to accommodate the growing congregation.This included the addition of the santuary and sacristy, the chancel arch and the carved stone pulpit. In 1874 the church suffered major damage from a fire in the roof and another architect, Mr John Horbury Hunt, was engaged to oversee the repairs.

Hunt included the walls of the Nave in the repairs and raised them higher by an extra two courses. He removed the original internal brick lining to these walls, and built the new 'hammer beam' style of roof, which resemble the hull of a timber ship. His design for the roof and ceiling was considered "a thrilling conception and most remakable feature", says Professor  A P Elkin, a later parish priest.

This is the roof framing which is still visible today. The roof was clad with slate shingles and removed around the 1940's. The style of buttresses were changed from the original rounded parapet to the square shape visible along the outside of the church today. However, the tower remained at the same height, and this is what gives the appearance  of the tower being out of proportion to the rest of the church.

The church suffered major structural damage in the Newcastle earthquake of 1989. The Sydney architects, Woodhouse and Danks, were engaged to oversee the repairs that were needed. As well as structural repairs such as the tensioning rods that have been drilled through the rubble-filled sandstone cavity walls, the Parish undertook some important secondary repairs. This included the replacement of asbestos with the new fibrous cement currently in place, repairs to roof framing and lining timbersand the replacement of dormer vents located along the apex of the Nave. Repairs to the floor were carried out along with the 'sympathetic' upgrading of lighting to the entire building. The repairs commenced in 1993 and took almost 12 months to complete.

 The Pews

The existing cedar pews and the beautifully carved pew ends are from locally hewn cedar and were placed in the church in 1864. They have survived fire, as well as the ominous suggestions in the 1960's 'to cut off the carved tops of the pew ends' - as they blocked the view of the altar.

They offer testament to over a century of use, including initials carved in them by past students of the Church of England Grammar School, now the Closebourne Centre.

The Stained Glass Windows

As well as the East window, St. James' has other fine stained glass windows. In the porch there are two stained glass windows on opposite walls which remind us of the time when St. James' was the parish church for the Bishops of Newcastle Diocese. One window is in memory of William Tyrrell, the first Bishop of Newcastle, the other is of George Stanton, the third Bishop. At the front of the Nave, adjacent to the chancel arch is a three panel stained glass window of the three Apostles; Peter, James and John.

The Organ

The western wall between the Tower and the Nave originally opened into a Gallery and this is where the first organ was located. The present instrument is one of the few surviving William Davidson organs. It was installed in 1877. Originally it was constructed in the front left hand corner of the Chancel, but it obscured not only the window but part of the Chancel Arch. Operated by air, generated by bellows, you can still see the mark against the stone where the person who pumped' the bellows stood, behind a timber screen.

In the 1940's it was decided to electrify the air pump to the organ and shift it to its pesent location at the rear of the Nave. The organ was entirely renovated in 2004 by Peter Jukes of Sydney, and the exterior pipes replaced.

The East Window

The beautiful East window was installed in 1871 in memory of Edward Charles Close who died on May 7th, 1866.

The magnificent five column stained glass window represents, in the central spaces, the Last Supper, Jesus' crucifixion, and His Resurrection. These windows are crowned by a rose window, uniquely placed in an eastern church wall, depicting the Pantocrator - Christ in glory. Bishop Tyrrell designed the window to create beauty in his parish church and to teach the central truths of catholic Christianity. The glass was made in England by a team of glaziers so far untraceable amd paid for by the "inhabitants of the district" in memory of the builder of St James Church. The full impact of this window is best experienced when the rising sun's ray s filter through the coloured glass as they do in the Paschal Liturgy on Easter morning. The coloured shafts of light entering the darkened church are breathtaking.  

The Font

The Baptismal font was designed by Edmond Blackett and positioned in 1864 during the alterations. Next to it stands the Paschal Candle, a symbol of the light of Christ.

The many memorial plaques in the church were moved to the Baptisrty in the 1980's. 

The Pulpit

The unusual pulpit is a replica of the 13th century monastic lectern in Beaulieu Abbey, Hampshire. Originally a Cistercian foundation the abbey became, at the Reformation, the parish church of Beaulieu where William Tyrrell had been parish priest before his appointment to Newcastle. The meticulously cut stone was crafted by Daniel Yates, a Maitland stonemason. 

The Lectern

The Eagle is the traditional symbol of St. John, the fourth Evangelist, a sign that the good news of Jesus Christ is to be taken to the ends of the Earth.

It is from the Lectern (lectio: Latin - Reading) that the Word of God is read, reflected on in the Holmily and prayed over in the Prayers of the Faithful.  

The Lectern is a memorial to Bishop Tyrrell, who died in 1879. 

The Statues

In the Baptistry is a wood carving of St. James, our Patron Saint. He is also the patron of Spain, and legend has it his bones were found at Compostella in the N.W. of that counrty in the early Middle Ages. Pilgrimages from Paris to Santiago de Compostella still continue. James carries his staff of pilgrimage and a book of the Gospels.

Also at the front of the Church stands a statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary cradling the child Jesus in her arms. It is a memorial to Mr Sid Stephens, a faithful member of the parish, and dedicated in 2005.

Mary is the God-bearer, the one who reveals the Word to us. Mary is thus the first Christian and is called "First amongst the faithful".

Both these statues were made by the Austrian woodcarver, Mr Englebert Piccolrautz of Marrickville in Sydney.

Standing under both these statues are Votive candle stands where you may say a prayer and light a candle as a symbol of your speech with God.