The Church of St James the Greater, in the Diocese of Leicester, in the East Midlands, can be found just to the south of the centre of the City of Leicester, on the main A6, opposite Victoria Park.

With a design influenced by the great cathedral of Torcello in the Venetian lagoon, it was built between 1899 and 1914, to serve the expanding city of Leicester.

There is a thriving congregation, and the worship is varied, maintaining the best of the Anglican tradition, liturgically and musically, attracting people from all walks of life and from all over the county of Leicestershire and beyond.

The Ministry Team are here to offer support, advice and practical help at all the important times in family life.

Whether you want your baby baptised, a wedding service in church, need support when a death occurs, or just someone to talk to about the christian faith, the clergy are here to assist.

A DIFFERENT SORT OF CHURCH

Due to Covid-19, in accordance with government guidance and the instructions of the Archbishops, all public worship is suspended.

BUILDING OPEN FOR PRIVATE PRAYER

We'll be open for private prayer again this Sunday morning between 10am and 12pm.

As there's still a high infection rate in Leicester, we strongly advise everyone who visits the church to wear a face covering. We won't be opening this coming Wednesday, 5th August, though. As with previous Sunday's, there'll be a one-way system in place. When you arrive, you'll need to enter via the North Porch door and use the hand sanitiser provided. Chairs remain 2m apart and we ask that you don't move any, as this will allow us to maintain social distancing.

Please remember that if you're in the more vulnerable age group (70+), or have underlying health conditions, then you should still stay at home as much as possible.

The changes announced on Friday to the local lockdown conditions, mean that we're able to reopen for public worship next Sunday, 9th August. The PCC will be meeting on Tuesday evening to finalise our plans for this.

As soon as we have more information about opening further, we will publish it here.

However, please be aware that face coverings will be compulsory in places of worship from 8th August.

Please pray for all those who are affected by the virus, as well as those city businesses whose livelihoods are threatened.

If you have any questions about the church re-opening, please contact the Church Office.

Our life is going to be less characterised by attendance at church on Sunday, and more characterised by the prayer and service we offer each day. We may not be able to pray with people in the ways that we are used to, but we can certainly pray for people. And we can certainly offer practical care and support.

We are a vibrant and worshipping community and even thought we cannot be together in person, we can remain together in prayer.

Keeping in touch

The regular weekly leaflet is still being produced and can be download from this site as usual.

In addition to this website, we also have a presence on Facebook (see below)

Please check back here regularly for updates and information concerning worship resources.

LETTER FROM THE VICAR

Here is a letter about our future plans to resume worship at St James' (it's quite a long read)

Please check back here regularly for updates and information concerning worship resources.

The Shell

During the present circumstances the quarterly editions of The Shell continue to be published, not in hard copy for the foreseeable future, but as usual in glorious technicolour here on the website. The latest edition is available here.

It's that time again! Once again the editor is beginning to put together the Autumn edition of The Shell which he hopes to publish on or about Thursday 20th August. There must be a lot to talk about in this issue. What have you been doing during the lockdown?, for example. How have you been coping?. It is at times like this when sharing what we have all been up to might be particularly helpful to one another. There will, of course, be the usual fun items, but don't be dissuaded from writing something on the basis that there might not be space to print it. What get's submitted, get's printed (subject to the usual constraints of public decency, of course!).

Please let Graham () have your contributions as soon as possible, and in any event by Monday 17th August."

Virtual Services

A Virtual Choral Evensong for St James' Day

Once again working indvidually from their homes, the choir, alumni and others have recorded full Service of Choral Evensong for 26th July 2020 (Patronal Festival) The last service in the strangest of choir terms, as the choir now takes its summer break (!)

INTROIT: Locus Iste (Bruckner)
Locus iste a Deo factus est, Inaestimabile sacramentum, irreprehensibilis est.
( This place was made by God, a priceless sacrament; it is without reproach. )
HYMN: Angel voices ever singing
RESPONSES: Rule
PSALM: 105 (Howells)
CANTICLES: Stanford in Bb
ANTHEM: I was glad (Parry)
HYMN: How shall I sing that majesty ?

Available to watch on our YouTube channel

#TogetherInHope #ThisIsLeicester

We WILL be glad, when they say unto us that we may go into the house of the LORD.

As we emerge from the current pandemic, all choirs will face huge challenges to maintain their long tradition of choral excellence.

If you have enjoyed the music and services offered online during the last few months, please consider supporting our choir directly by making a donation via this link

Seventh Sunday after Trinity - 26th July 2020

Anthem and Prayer for the Day

Lord, for thy tender mercy's sake (attr Farrant)

This Sunday, we celebrate the Feast Day of our Patron Saint, St James the Greater. Traditionally, this is also the end of the choir term as the choir members take a well-earned summer break and so this will be the last of the weekly Prayer and Anthem videos (at least for the time being).

We hope and pray that it will not be too long before we are able once again to meet together and "Sing praises to our God". Amen.

Sixth Sunday after Trinity - 19th July 2020

Anthem and Prayer for the Day

Song for Athene (Tavener)

Fifth Sunday after Trinity - 12th July 2020

Anthem and Prayer for the Day

They that go down to the sea in ships (Sumsion)

Fourth Sunday after Trinity - 5th July 2020

Anthem and Prayer for the Day

My soul, there is a country (Parry)

Third Sunday after Trinity - 28th June 2020

Anthem and Prayer for the Day

Bread of Heaven (Wills)

Thought for the Day - 24th June 2020

St John the Baptist

Sheila Roberts (Reader Minister)

Second Sunday after Trinity- 21st June 2020

Anthem and Prayer for the Day

The Lord Bless You and Keep You (Rutter)

First Sunday after Trinity- 14th June 2020

Anthem and Prayer for the Day

Ubi Caritas (Duruflé)

Thought for the Day - 12th June 2020

St Barnabas

Sheila Roberts (Reader Minister)

Trinity Sunday - 7th June 2020

Anthem and Prayer for the Day

Hymn to the Trinity (Tchaikovsky)

A virtual recording by some members of the choir

Pentecost Sunday - 31st May 2020

Anthem and Prayer for the Day

Come Down O Love Divine (Stopford)

7th Sunday of Easter - 24th May 2020

Anthem and Prayer for the Day

God is Gone Up (Finzi)

6th Sunday of Easter - 17th May 2020

Anthem and Prayer for the Day

Hallelujah Chorus (Handel)

Thought for the Day - 14th May 2020

St Matthias the Apostle

Sheila Roberts (Reader Minister)

A Virtual Choral Evensong for Easter 5

Working indvidually from their homes, the choir and alumni, and others have recorded a full Service of Choral Evensong for 10th May 2020 (Easter 5)

HYMN: Ye Choirs of New Jerusalem
RESPONSES: Rose
PSALM: 31 (Howells)
CANTICLES: Howells Collegium Regale
ANTHEM: Evening Hymn (Balfour Gardiner)
HYMN: We have a Gospel to Proclaim

Available to watch on our YouTube channel

5th Sunday of Easter - 10th May 2020

Anthem and Prayer for the Day

Now the Green Blade Riseth (Trad arr Saunders)

Thought for the Day - 8th May 2020

VE Day and Julian of Norwich

Dr Angela Jagger (Lay Reader)

4th Sunday of Easter - 3rd May 2020

Anthem and Prayer for the Day

Jesus Christ is Risen (Trad)

3rd Sunday of Easter - 26th April 2020

Anthem and Prayer for the Day

This Joyful Eastertide (Wood)

Low Sunday - 19th April 2020

Anthem and Prayer for the Day

Blessed be the God and Father (Wesley)

A Virtual Choral Evensong for Easter Day

Working indvidually from their homes, the choir and others have recorded a full Service of Choral Evensong for Easter Day

HYMN: Christ Triumphant
RESPONSES: Smith
CANTICLES: Brewer in D
ANTHEM: O Sons and Daughters (Walford Davies)
HYMN: Thine be the Glory

Available to watch on our YouTube channel

Tenebrae

An audio recording from Good Friday 2017

Music includes:
Christus factus est (Bruckner)
Lamentations (Bairstow)
Crown of Thorns (Tchaikovsky)
Crucifixus (Lotti)
Solus ad victimam (Leighton)

Download the archived Order of Service

Music and Readings for Holy Week

An audio recording from Palm Sunday 2019

Music includes:
Hosanna to the Son of David (Weelkes)
And they came to a place (Stainer)
The Crown of Roses (Tchaikovsky)
Drop, drop slow tears (Leighton)

Download the archived Order of Service

Other Resources for Home Worship

The Church of England have produced a booklet of Prayers for use during the coronavirus outbreak

Broadcast Media
Daily Service Mon-Fri at 9.45am Radio 4 LW
Choral Evensong Wed at 3.30pm & Sun at 3pm Radio 3
Sunday Worship Sun at 8.10am Radio 4
Morning Worship Sun - check schedule for time BBC1
Songs of Praise Sun - check schedule for time BBC1

Online
The Church of England
Leicester Cathedral
Audio Webcasts from King's College, Cambridge