Parish History
For more than 150 years, St. James Westminster has been a place of worship, community, and faithful service in London. Founded in 1873 to serve the growing Anglican community south of the Thames River, the parish began with a simple brick church that seated just 200 people. Within only a few years, the congregation had outgrown its first home, a testament to the vitality and vision of those early parishioners.
The parish owes its beginnings to the dedication of local Anglicans and the encouragement of the wider Diocese of Huron. Mrs. Benjamin Cronyn, wife of Huron's first bishop, played an important role in raising the funds that made the first church possible. The land was purchased in Westminster Township, and on September 7, 1873, St. James opened its doors for worship.
The parish flourished under its first rector, the Reverend Evans Davis, whose remarkable forty-three-year ministry shaped the life of the congregation for generations. Under his leadership, St. James became one of the largest and most influential parishes in the Diocese of Huron. His appointment as Dean of Huron, while continuing to serve as rector of St. James, was an exceptional honour that reflected both his leadership and the growing importance of the parish.
From the beginning, St. James has been more than a place for Sunday worship. Parishioners gathered for concerts, picnics, garden parties, and charitable work, building a community rooted in friendship, hospitality, and service. That same spirit continues today as we gather around Word and Sacrament, care for our neighbours, and seek to share Christ's love in London and beyond.
While much has changed since 1873, our purpose remains the same: to worship God faithfully, serve our community generously, and proclaim the hope of Jesus Christ to each new generation.
Did You Know?
We opened the same weekend as the circus!
St. James first opened for worship on September 7, 1873, just one day before P. T. Barnum's famous circus arrived in London. Both offered morning, afternoon, and evening events, making for an unforgettable weekend in the city.
The little bell that built a parish
The first church featured a modest belfry and bell whose call to worship became familiar throughout the neighbourhood. Within just four years, the congregation had grown so much that a larger church was needed.
A rector of rare distinction
Our first rector, the Reverend Evans Davis, served St. James for forty-three years. During his ministry, he was appointed Dean of Huron while remaining rector of the parish, an honour rarely bestowed on someone serving outside a cathedral church.
From forest to city
Although today we are in the heart of London, the first parishioners gathered on the edge of the city. Garden parties, concerts, and parish picnics were often held "in the woods near the church," a reminder of our rural beginnings.
We helped plant another parish
In 1915, during a fierce winter storm, the rector dedicated a mission hall in Manor Park. That mission eventually grew into the Church of the Epiphany, extending St. James' ministry into a new neighbourhood.
Teen dances built the church
In the 1950s, Friday night "Record Hops" in the parish hall became a popular gathering place for local youth. The proceeds helped fund a stained glass window, a Bishop's Chair, and even a new electric mimeograph machine for the parish office.
The mysterious Wah-Wah-Kee-Yah Society
One of the many parish organizations of the 1930s carried the wonderfully memorable name "Wah-Wah-Kee-Yah." While the origin of the name has been lost to history, it remains a delightful reminder of the rich and varied life of the parish through the decades.