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74
Although the Church cannot boast of a handsome exterior,
being built merely of dark red brick with stone dressings,
without any pretension to ornament, the interior presents a
light and elegant appearance, and the altar screen displays
some of the finest of Gibbon's carvings. Of all the churches
which he designed, Sir Christopher Wren regarded St.
James's as his chef d'œuvre, for he remarks:-
"I can hardly think it practicable to make a single room so capacious
with pews and galleries as to hold above 2,000 persons, and all to hear the
service, and both to hear distinctly and see the preacher. I endeavoured
to effect this in building the Parish Church of St. James's, Westminster,
which I presume is the most capacious with these qualifications that hath
yet been built; and yet at a solemn time when the church was much crowded,
I could not discern from a gallery that 2,000 persons were present in this
church I mention, though very broad and the nave arched up. And yet, as
there are no walls of a second order, nor lantern nor buttresses, but the
whole roof rests upon the pillars &s do also the galleries, I think it may be
found beautiful and convenient, and as such the cheapest form of any I
could invent."
The foregoing description of St. James's Church seems to
be slightly tinged by parental fondness, for it is doubtful
whether the Church will seat 2,000 persons, while the pillars
supporting the galleries and roof necessarily impede the view
of the preacher to some extent.
The cost of the Church and steeple, and the wall enclosing
the churchyard, is stated in the Act creating the parish at
"£7,000 or more part thereof is a debt yet unpaid,
and the said steeple is yet unfinished."
No detailed records of the erection of the Church itself
appear to exist as public documents, but the erection of the
steeple is very fully set forth in the minutes of the Vestry.
A design was submitted by Wren for the steeple, but
evidently did not meet with the approval of the Vestry, for at
a meeting held on the 12th August, 1685, it was "Order'd