The 17th-century church hosting drag shows and poetry

Why does a 17th-century church feel more like a community hub than a dusty relic? Since the 1980s, St James's Church has traded fading momentum for a reputation as a progressive, campaigning space. The people here do not even like the word "congregation" anymore; they prefer "community."

It began with Sir Christopher Wren, who designed the red brick and Portland stone exterior in 1684. Inside, you find a barrel vault supported by Corinthian columns and a rare survival of a full suite of church furnishing by Sir Albert Richardson. There is also a sumptuous, gilded oak organ case by Grinling Gibbons. At present, the case sits empty and an electronic replacement is used instead, as a restoration project started in 1982 has not yet come to fruition.

But the real story is how the place operates today. It hosts everything from spiritual explorers to "The Vagabonds," a group that meets in a local alehouse to discuss William Blake poems. They support the ordination of women and the treatment of asylum seekers. In 2023, they even hosted a drag show, which drew some criticism. They are not just preserving Wren's architecture; they are trying to make it actually mean something to the people living next door.

If you visit, you can see the Southwood Garden, a garden of remembrance opened by Queen Mary in 1946. The church is open to the public and hosts regular concerts.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons