St. James Church, Sydney

St James' Church is an Anglican church on King Street in Sydney, Australia, known by Sydneysiders as St James' King Street. The church building was designed by the convict and architect Francis Greenway and consecrated in 1824. The building was originally designed to serve as a courthouse - a purpose betrayed by the unusual classical form and central positioning of the northern porch (which also serves as the main entrance) - but was modified prior to construction as a church with the addition of a steeple at the western end. St James' railway station is named for and sited beneath the edifice.

Dan Cruickshank described the church as one of the world's eighty greatest man-made treasures in his television series "Around the World in 80 Treasures".

History

Although not the first Anglican church in the colony, St James' is now the oldest church in the centre of Sydney and has a special role in the city's religious and social life. For example, the beginning of the legal year is marked with a service attended by the Supreme Court justices in ceremonial costume.

Anglo-Catholic

St James' is a church which worships in a High Anglican or Anglo-Catholic, rather than the Low Church style common in the diocese. The Guild of Servers are present at all main services and ensure the highest standard of ceremony in worship. It is also known for taking a more liberal stance than many other churches in the diocese on certain issues, particularly sexuality and the ordination of women. The Rector of St. James is the Rev. Peter Kurti, and the Associate Rector is Fr. John Stewart.

Festival services at St James' are widely popular and known for the high standard of liturgy and music. In particular the festival of Easter, Advent Carols, Nine Lessons & Carols, Christmas Eve Midnight Mass and the January orchestral masses are high points of the church's year.

St James' is also famous for the work of its music department. The church possesses a fine three manual pipe organ and promotes many and varied concerts and recitals throughout the year. The semi-professional choir of adults sings at the 11am Sunday Eucharist and monthly 3.00 pm Choral Evensong on the final Sunday of the month. The assistant organist and music development officer is English musician Peter Ellis and the current organ scholar Andrej Kouznetsov succeeded Sarah Kim who is now at the Paris Conservatoire.

Tourism

As one of Sydney's most historic buildings, St. James' attracts many tourists, who are able to see many of the beautiful features of the Church, from the modern stained glass of the Holy Spirit Chapel, to the unique decoration of the Children's chapel.

ee also

Anglican Church of Australia

External links

* [http://www.sjks.org.au/ St James' Church website]