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Welcome you to St James’ Church, Whitehaven
Which was built between 1752 and 1753 and is a fine example of Georgian architecture. Situated on High Street it has a commanding
Which was built between 1752 and 1753 and is a fine example of Georgian architecture. Situated on High Street it has a commanding
view down Queen Street towards the centre of the town. The tower of the Church accommodates a ring of twelve bells, two of which
were recently cast. One of them is dedicated to the life and work of the late Rev. Russell Rebert, who was part of the clergy team at St James,
and the other to the Millennium. There is also a beautifully engraved inner door depicting associations with Russell's homeland of Sri Lanka.
It was decided in 1753 to install a clock and a bell in the tower so that they could be seen and heard from the town. As the church stood
on high ground this would be the ideal place. The original clock cost 30 guineas and was in place until 1943 but was then replaced by a
re-modelled one at a cost of £100.
Rev John Bannister, (Rector) & Rev Malcolm Cowan, (Team Vicar)
The Pulpit
This has only been in it's present position since 1886. Prior to this it was where the
organ is now sited, and before this stood in the Apse where the Altar now stands.
Originally a three decker wineglass style pulpit, it had to be reduced to it's present
form in 1979. The stem and steps were removed but can still be seen on the gallery.
The rails were originally sited in front of the altar and were used during
the Communion service.
is a work by the Italian artist Giulio Cesare Procaccini and portrays "TheTransfiguration".
The history of this painting is strange as it was said to have been taken from the
Escoril Palace in Madrid by Napoleon's soldiers during their invasion of Spain. From there it was taken to France and then to England, where it eventually came into the possession of the Third Lord of Lonsdale. In 1869 he presented it to St James Church. This painting, reputedly the only work by this Italian artist in any English Church, shows the transfigurated Lord and the disciples Peter, James, and John. In the top left corner can be seen Moses holding the tablets
of Law, while top right corner shows Elijah.
There are two ceiling roundels in the Church. One depicting the Annunciation,
and the other which is nearest to the Altar, is of the Ascension. They are said to be the
work of Italian artists called Arturo and Baggiotti. During the redecoration of the Church
in 1970 the roundels were given a Wedgewood appearance that made the off- white plaster
stand out in relief against the blue background.
The organ is relatively new as it dates from 1909 and was built in London
by Norman & Beard Ltd to a design by Lt Col G.Dixon of St Bees . The original siting
for the organ was upstairs in the west gallery, but was moved to the present site in 1886.
The Font is made of Florentine marble circa 1650 and comes from Duomo, Florence. Records show that it was presented to the church in 1876 in memory of Elizabeth, second daughter of the Earl of Lonsdale.
The Lady Chapel
is a converted recess, after the removal of the pews, to form part of the church’s war memorial. It houses three bronze tablets on which are engraved in black lettering the names and units of those servicemen lost
in the 1914-18 war. On the window ledge is a lump of coal, and hanging up is a miner's lamp. These were presented to the church as a memorial to the coal miners who lost their lives in the William pit disaster in 1947.
This part of the Church has now been refurbished and this gives the Lady Chapel more modern, brighter appearance without looking out of place with the rest of the church.
The baptistry has also undergone a make over, so the changes to both sides of the church create a nicely balanced look to the church.
The porch is quite plain with a flagged floor and an oak staircase on each side leading to the upper galleries . On the wall at the
head of the stairs is a carved monument in memory of the Reverend Thomas Spedding A.M. who was the first minister of the chapel
and who died in 1783. Fastened to the landing above the entrance doors to the church is the carved and painted
Royal Hanoverian Arms of the Third period (1816-1837).
The Garden of Remembrance is situated behind the church. On the wall overlooking it are marble tablets engraved with the names
of anyone who has the ashes of relatives or friends interred there.
When the inner doors were made it was decided to have them engraved with designs that were associated with Sri Lanka in memory of
Russell Rebert who died in 1995. He came to Whitehaven in 1984 as Curate, and later became Team Vicar and Hospital Chaplain to the
Parish of Whitehaven. After a long illness he died in his native Sri Lanka aged 48. The design on these doors incorporates the two national
symbols of that country, The Na tree and the Nymphea Stellata, which is a blue water lily, and together with these is the Nestorian Cross.
The top panel contains the dove as the Holy Spirit with a halo, with the flowering branches of the Na tree growing outwards from it.
Central above the door is the Nestorian Cross which leads upwards into a fountain. From this centre flow rivers, the water of life, which
then descend in four columns of flowing water at the base of both doors, to pools where the water lilies are. The water is a medium
for binding the designs together to make a complete picture. Denoting purity, the Na Tree has both religious and sacred associations
in Sri Lanka. It provides a very hard wood which is used for woodwork in the temples. It bears large, white, sweet smelling flowers and
the edible seeds are used in medicines. The water lily (Nimamel) is also used in herbal medicines and is considered to be
a symbol of purity and truth.
Details of Services and other activities can be obtained by contacting
Rev. J. Bannister 01946 693474
Rev Malcolm Cowan 01946 2630
St Nicholas Centre 01946 62572
Parish office 01946 599485
