St James' URC

St James' United Reformed Church
Palmerston Road
Buckhurst Hill
Essex
IG9 5NG

Sunday Worship
10:30 - 11:30 church worship with coffee/tea afterwards.

Minister
Revd Jonathan Hyde​
Hall Hire
Gerald Lee
020 8505 0300
[email protected]
​Click here for more information about hall hire.

Services & Events at St James'

Regular Hall Bookings at St James'

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Click to download PDF
St James' URC has three spaces to hire: our main hall, our small hall and our prayer room.

Our main hall is currently used for dinners and socials, cinema nights, concerts, school activities, sports activities, uniformed groups and toddler play groups.

Our smaller spaces service community meetings, Pilates, keep fit, drama, dance and choirs.
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Click here for photos, dimensions and capacity information.

Please contact the Hall Manager, Gerald Lee, on 020 8505 0300 or [email protected] to make a booking.
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Click poster for more info.
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Click poster for more info.

Church Elders

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Louise Woodcock, Isabel Bala & Margaret Minoletti

The History of St James' URC

In 1860, a small group of people, led by a Mr Gingell and his supporters, met as a church in a room at The Bald-Faced Stag, the old public house where the Toby Carvery now stands.

In 1868 enough money had been raised to purchase the present site, call a pastor and build a school hall.

In 1873 the first church with the tower was built and in 1896 Buckhurst Hill Congregational Church was formally constituted.

In 1908 a fine pipe organ was built in the church and in 1927 two classrooms were added as the Sunday School was growing fast.   

Church life continued during the two world wars and Tidings, the first church magazine, was started to keep in touch with members who had moved away from home or who were serving in the forces.

In 1953, recognising that the original buildings had a limited life, the present dual-purpose church/ hall was built.

In 1972, Buckhurst Hill Congregational Church became a United Reformed Church and in 1987, we adopted the name St James’.

In 1987, part of the site was sold and the old church and classrooms were demolished for the construction of the retirement flats at St James’ Gate. The tower, however, was retained as a local landmark. The proceeds of the sale were used to refurbish and extend the 1953 building and provide the premises we have today.
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In more recent years, St James' URC has become an enthusiastic Eco Congregation and in 2009 the solar panels on the roof were added.