St James Church, Gerrards Cross

St James Church stands in Gerrards Cross, a town in Buckinghamshire. It is an evangelical Church of England parish church formed by the merger of two congregations in 1986. The church is Grade II* listed on the National Heritage List for England. The current rector is The Rev. Matt Beeby, while a former incumbent, Paul Gavin Williams, now serves as the Bishop of Southwell and Nottingham. The building was paid for entirely by the sisters of General George Alexander Reid, who had been MP for Windsor. The church has been a centre of worship since its consecration on 30 August 1859 by the Bishop of Oxford. A modern St James Centre was added behind the church in 2006, opened by George Carey. The church marked its 150th anniversary in 2009. Regular Sunday services include morning and evening worship with children’s and youth activities. Talks and sermons from many services are available as podcasts for download. Inside, the church contains a pipe organ that may date from the time of its opening. The organ was modified in 1910, 1970 and later years by different builders. The building itself is a simple but elegant place of worship with a peaceful atmosphere. The St James Centre provides additional space for community use. The church remains an active part of the local area, hosting prayer gatherings and courses throughout the year.