We are on a mission to bring St James Church building, back to life.

St James is a building of significant historic, architectural and cultural importance. The Grade 2* listed building, derelict for 36 years, was a place of worship for an eclectic mix of Liverpudlians and slaves.

The project will address multi-stranded problems in an imaginative way. Our focus is on building community, overcoming isolation and encouraging inclusion and integration.

By bringing the building back to life we will develop a community facility, a slavery exhibition, a place of worship and outdoor space as well as providing employment and volunteering opportunities.

History:

In May 2010 St James was officially handed over from The Churches Conservation Trust to Liverpool Diocese. The Grade 2* listed church has been closed for 30 years, is on the 'buildings at risk' register and remains in a semi-derelict state of repair. St James congregation have erected a marquee inside the church to enable regular worship and have a vision to renovate the building and connect with the growing residential population and the huge transient population who work, socialise or attend university in the city.

St James Church, was opened for its first service on June 4, 1775. To local historians, it is of huge interest as one of the oldest standing churches in Liverpool and the oldest remaining building in Britain to use cast-iron pillars. With the columns, the architect and builder, Cuthbert Bisbrowne, had pioneered prefabricated construction, now standard in the industry world-wide.

St James is a much-loved treasure and a link to history with a long-standing association as ‘the slave church’. Of the nineteen monuments inside the church, many are to the memory of people connected with the slave trade. The registers of St James feature the names and origins of people from all over the world, many of whom were either slaves or slave masters.

Safeguarding repairs:

In December 2010 essential safeguarding works were carried out to ensure the building could withstand the 10/11 winter. At this time we carried out futher investigations into the condition of the building and prepared a 'Findings Report' document.

These investigations informed the scope of the next phase of most urgent repairs which are focused upon structural repairs to the Nave and Chancel roof including trusses, complete renewal of slate roofing, parapet gutters, rainwater goods and asociated flashings.

Roof Repairs: Request for tender