Checking off as many historical sites as I could while in Sydney. Sydney's first church, built in the early 1820's, was on the list. St James is located in an area full of history and beauty. Hyde park is across the street. St Mary's Cathedral and The Barracks are a block away. Town Hall and the Queen Victoria Building are four blocks away. St James' architectural style is Georgian and designed by convict architect Francis Greenway. Other tours would also give credit to other convicts for their contributions in building the city. The exterior is built of warm salmon-coloured sandstock bricks called samels. And started as a rectangular block building. The last 200 years has seen some additions and upgrades. Today the Anglican church still show off its simple charms. The coffered ceiling. The high arched alcoves framing the stained glass windows. The meticulous mosaic tile floor. And the creaky old wooden pews. St James has been in continuous use. It took two attempts to see the church. It isn't always open. And I couldn't find posted hours. read more

See all

I've never set foot in this church, but I have partied like a bandit beneath it. Now, hold on, hold on. Avert your accusatory stares. Put away those stink-eyes, people. This was legit. There was a gig on in the crypt beneath the church (side note: how freaking sweet is it not only that there's a subterranean crypt, but that they open it up for gigs? Go clergy!) You stoop to go through this little tunnel and there's a long, kind of cramped sandstone hallway with a bunch of side passages running off it every 15 metres or so, it's super cool. The reverb was immense! And the bathrooms were a revelation, modern and spotless. I didn't want to leave. The bathrooms, or the crypt. If you ever get a chance to see a gig here (mine was Kirin J Callinan, btw) jump at it. read more

St James Church - Churches Near Me - Sydney, NSW

See all

Francis Greenway, the convict architect is remembered on a plaque by the door which honours him and 'the artisans and labourers who erected' the church. It's not often you stop to think of all the hands and minds involved in creating a building like this. Consecrated in 1824 after being originally intended as a court house, St James' is less visually dominating from the outside than the great cathedrals of St Andrew's or St Mary's. Inside it's surprisingly large, and as the doors shut behind you the traffic becomes but a buzz. Above the altar is an amazing half dome covered in plain gold tiles like a minimalist versian of a Byzantine mosaic. To the right, in the Chapel of the Holy Spirit has an amazing floor to ceiling modern stained glass wall by David Wright, done as a bicentennial celebration. It's truly beautiful, although I couldn't get a close look as I didn't want to disturb the prayer group in there. When they finished a lady came out and glared at me, as I clearly was marked out somehow as Not High Anglican. Or Anglican At All for than matter. St James' hosts a lot of musical performances, check their website for details, many free lunchtime concerts on Wednesdays. The memorials on the walls always spark real flights of the imagination too. I spotted one dedicated to 'Sarah Catherine ... who departed this life on 4th Feb 1853, at sea'. She was travelling from Sydney to England is is remembered here by her husband, the Comissary General. What gets me is that the exact latitude and longitude are recorded, as if she was not completely lost. read more

See all