The population of the village of Eastbury is currently around 275; Eastbury is a typical downland village in the Lambourn Valley of the Racehorse.

At the heart of the village stands the church of St. James the Greater which was built in 1853 and was designed by the English architect George Edmund Street. The church was commissioned by Robert Milman, the vicar of Lambourn at the time, and the majority of the cost was met from Milman’s private fortune. He later became Bishop of Calcutta and Metropolitan India. However, of great interest is a window that attracts many visitors to the church, dedicated to the memory of the Anglo-Welsh war poet, Edward Thomas and his wife, Helen. This window is a modern, plain glass window beautifully engraved by Laurence Whistler in 1971.

In 2022, St. James the Greater became an A Rocha UK EcoChurch Bronze Award winner and was awarded EcoChurch Silver in 2023. Also in 2023 the church completed its energy audit to provide a pathway to energy efficiency and net-zero carbon by 2030. For more information on how we are responding to the environmental crisis facing our planet please click on this link.

St. James’s Church offers not only worship but also a peaceful retreat, companionship, a Sunday School for children and support to all. The church is open during day-light hours, and we look forward to extending a warm welcome to anyone at any time.