St James' Church

In 1857 the arrival of the railway in Beckenham resulted in a surge of new residents, necessitating the creation of new churches. In 1879 St. James’s Church was built, replacing a small iron church that had served the Elmers End ward of Beckenham for several decades,

Today St. James’s Church has a friendly congregation, committed to working together to create a welcoming ambience for all. There are rotas for efficient running of the church and services. A small committed adult choir and organist ensures the continuity of our musical tradition. We have a Compton organ which is tuned twice yearly. It was built for the church in 1935 by the John Compton Organ Company, a wonderful example of the work of the Compton company and retains its original specification.

During term time the halls are used during the day by a pre-school group, and in the evenings by uniformed organisations: Brownies, Guides, Beavers, Cubs and Scouts. We are pleased to report the re-introduction of a Scout Group at St. James’s Church in 2023 after a 7 year break. dedication and professionalism of the leaders. Additional lettings include a tutor group, a mini athletics group and children’s parties, and various other groups subject to availability