St James the Great

St James is the largest, in floor area, of the churches within the ancient walls of Colchester. It consists of a nave with north and south aisles, a chancel with north and south chapels and a west tower and stands high on East Hill with the Roman Town Wall forming part of the property boundary. 

Entering through the north porch affords an instant view of this Grade II* listed church’s vast interior begun in medieval times and extended over several centuries. 

To the right of the north door is a fine marble memorial to Arthur Winsley, Mayor of Colchester and local benefactor of almshouses for the poor. It is a little known work of Richard Van Spangan, sculpted in 1740. Two memorial hatchments to the Boggis family are to be found in the church. The family were parishioners of St James for many generations and the Commonwealth War Grave of William Boggis can be found in the churchyard. 

Further along the north aisle is the original 14th century chapel of St Peter & St Paul. This chapel was rebuilt in early Tudor times. At the altar is a painting of the Last Supper by James Archer RSA, (circa 1855). Over the high altar is a large altarpiece the ‘Adoration of the Shepherds’, painted for St James by George Carter of Colchester. It was exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1778 and fully restored in 2023.

There has been a chapel on the site of the present Lady Chapel since the late 12th century. On the south side the two windows house Flemish stained glass brought to St James from Flanders. Just outside the chapel is the Memorial to the soldiers of the 18th Eastern Division who died in the Great War. The church organ originally stood in the former St Nicholas church. It was restored and brought to St James where it is in regular use. The original west door lies behind the organ pipes but the tower still houses the remaining bell and a spirelet sits above it, added in the 18th century to protect the clock bell.