ST JAMES' CHURCH, MUSWELL HILL
St James' Church was built in 1900 to a design by architect J.S. Alder. It is Grade II listed. The completed church was consecrated by the Bishop of London on 30 June 1902.
Address : St James Lane
Post code : N10 3DB
Location : TQ 2857 8945
Post code : N10 3DB
Location : TQ 2857 8945
The stone-laying ceremony
"The Bishop of London, this afternoon, laid the foundation stone of the new Church of St. James,Muswell-hill. The church is to be built in the Perpendicular Gothic style, will have seating accommodation for 950 persons, and will cost £13,000. Towards the cost the Bishop of London’s Fund has given £l,000 and the Ecclesiastical Commissioners, who own considerable property in the neighbourhood, £250. The existing church is to be pulled down when the first portion of the new building has been completed. Among those taking part in the proceedings were the Bishop of Islington, the Archdeacon of Middlesex, the vicar St. James’s (the Rev. J. S. Whichelow), the curate (the Rev. R.C. Pearce, a large number of the neighbouring clergy, Mr. H. C. Stephens, M.P., and representatives of the Middlesex County Council, the Hornsey School Board, and the Hornsey District Council. The Rev. J. S. Whichelow said that the church, when it was erected some 50 years ago, had proved altogether inadequate to meet the requirements of the neighbourhood. At the last census the population of the district was only 1,727; at the present time was 5,000; and was informed those who were position to know that if the present rate of increase continued it would 10,000 almost before they had built the new church. The stone having been formally laid, the Bishop of London received purses of money on behalf of the building fund from 27 ladies. Subsequently he briefly addressed the congregation, remarking that the site on the crest of Muswell Hill was one of surpassing beauty. It was wise economy on the part the building committee —even though the whole the funds were not in hand - to decide to complete the new church in one undertaking. The dignity and worth of a church depended upon the number of persons who subscribed towards its cost, and hoped that the inhabitants would realise that it was their church, and that the smallest contribution would thankfully be thankfully received. The company afterwards adjourned to the vicarage lawn where tea was served. The Vicar then announced that the collection made for the building fund during the proceedings had amounted to £214 3s 2d, while the 27 purses had contained £142 2s, making a total of £353 5s 2d received that afternoon" - Islington Gazette, Friday 15 June 1900, p. 2.
The names on the stones
Mandell Creighton (1843-1901), was an ecclesiatical historian, and Bishop of London from 1897-1901. His wife, Louise, was a suffragette activist. A nearby road, Creighton Avenue, was laid out on 1900, and named after him.
James Shearer Whichelow (b. Windsor, 1838 - d. Ealing 1916).
Began his career as a schoolmaster before becoming a clergyman
1865 Principal, Zero House Commercial School, Hammersmith
1865 Elected member of the College of Preceptors
1869 Associate of King's College
1975 Appointed London Diocesan Home Missionary
1879-1882 Appointed Chaplain to the London Hospital
1883-1894 Vicar of Stephen's, Spitalfields and Rural Dean
Member, Whitechapel Board of Guardians
1894-1912 Vicar of St James', Muswell Hill
President of the Muswell Hill and Finchley Choral and Orchestral Society
In efforts to raise funds for the building of the church, Whichelow apparently upset the temperance lobby - "The reason why the Dean of Hereford did not, as was anticipated, open the recent bazaar at Muswell-hill in aid of the St. James's Church rebuilding fund has just been explained by Miss Florence Balgarnie, at the annual meeting of the local branch of the British Women's Temperance Association. The dean, it appears, is a very keen temperance advocate, and on hearing that the vicar, Rev. J. S. Whichelow, had taken out a license to sell tobacco at the bazaar, he absolutely refused to attend, and a lady had to take his place. On the following day the vicar, in the eyes of the temperance party, filled up the measure of his iniquities by allowing Mr. George Allsopp. M.P., of brewing fame, to open the second days proceedings." - Welsh Gazette, 20 July 1899, p. 3.
Began his career as a schoolmaster before becoming a clergyman
1865 Principal, Zero House Commercial School, Hammersmith
1865 Elected member of the College of Preceptors
1869 Associate of King's College
1975 Appointed London Diocesan Home Missionary
1879-1882 Appointed Chaplain to the London Hospital
1883-1894 Vicar of Stephen's, Spitalfields and Rural Dean
Member, Whitechapel Board of Guardians
1894-1912 Vicar of St James', Muswell Hill
President of the Muswell Hill and Finchley Choral and Orchestral Society
In efforts to raise funds for the building of the church, Whichelow apparently upset the temperance lobby - "The reason why the Dean of Hereford did not, as was anticipated, open the recent bazaar at Muswell-hill in aid of the St. James's Church rebuilding fund has just been explained by Miss Florence Balgarnie, at the annual meeting of the local branch of the British Women's Temperance Association. The dean, it appears, is a very keen temperance advocate, and on hearing that the vicar, Rev. J. S. Whichelow, had taken out a license to sell tobacco at the bazaar, he absolutely refused to attend, and a lady had to take his place. On the following day the vicar, in the eyes of the temperance party, filled up the measure of his iniquities by allowing Mr. George Allsopp. M.P., of brewing fame, to open the second days proceedings." - Welsh Gazette, 20 July 1899, p. 3.
W. Montgomery. Churchwarden
Henry Ernest Cooper (b. 1857). Churchwarden.
Merchant in dry goods
Chairman, Muswell Hill Ward Conservative Association
One time member of the Reform Party
Resided at "Ivanhoe", Muswell Hill Road
1903 Elected Alderman, Hornsey Borough Council
1911-1912 Mayor of Hornsey
Merchant in dry goods
Chairman, Muswell Hill Ward Conservative Association
One time member of the Reform Party
Resided at "Ivanhoe", Muswell Hill Road
1903 Elected Alderman, Hornsey Borough Council
1911-1912 Mayor of Hornsey
The architect
John Samuel Alder, (1847-1919), Architect. Prolific North London and beyond church and church hall architect. Not all of the buildings by Alder in the London Borough of Haringey have survived, but those that have include:
Holy Trinity Church, Stroud Green
St Andrew's, Muswell Hill (rebuilt after extensive war damage)
St Augustine's Church Hall, Highgate
St Michael's Church Hall, Wood Green
St Benet Fink, Tottenham
St Cuthbert's, Wood Green
Holy Trinity Church, Stroud Green
St Andrew's, Muswell Hill (rebuilt after extensive war damage)
St Augustine's Church Hall, Highgate
St Michael's Church Hall, Wood Green
St Benet Fink, Tottenham
St Cuthbert's, Wood Green
The builder
John Bentley (d. ca 1912) was an undertaker and successful building contractor from Sun Street, Waltham Abbey. He built numerous churches, and worked with John Samuel Alder on St Stephen's Church, Bush Hill Park, St Simon's Church, Paddington, St Barnabas' Church, North Finchley among others. Church warden, Waltham Abbey.