About Us

A Community of Faith

St James the Great Church, East Hill, Colchester is a traditional Anglo-Catholic parish in the heart of Britain’s oldest recorded town. Rooted in the fullness of the Catholic faith as received in the Church of England, we seek to be—as Scripture says—a “house of prayer for all people” (Isaiah 56:7) and a “gate of heaven” (Genesis 28:17).

Here, the daily rhythms of prayer and worship shape our life in Christ and invite all into deeper communion with God.

We warmly welcome worshippers and visitors of all ages.

Public prayer is offered Tuesday to Saturday at 7:45 a.m. and 6:00 p.m., providing sacred space for stillness, reflection, and silence in the midst of daily life. As Evagrius reminds us: “Prayer is the ascent of the mind to God.” In these quiet moments, we seek God's presence and peace.

At the heart of our parish life is the Holy Eucharist, the Church’s central act of worship. Mass is celebrated regularly (at advertised times), drawing us into the mystery of Christ’s Real Presence and the grace that nourishes our faith. Our worship is reverent, sacramental, and faithful to the Church’s tradition.

Whoever you are, and wherever you are on your journey of faith, you are invited to share in this sacred encounter.

St James the Great is a parish of The Society (under the patronage of Saint Wilfrid and Saint Hilda) and a member of Forward in Faith, under the pastoral and sacramental care of the Bishop of Richborough - The Rt Reverend Luke Irvine-Capel. Our mission is to proclaim the love of Christ, uphold the faith once delivered to the saints, and foster a community rooted in tradition, prayer, and hope.

We belong to the Diocese of Chelmsford, led by the Right Reverend Dr Guli Francis-Dehqani, Bishop of Chelmsford. In the Colchester Episcopal Area, we are served by the Right Reverend Roger Morris, Bishop of Colchester, and the Venerable Ruth Patten, Archdeacon of Colchester.

May Our Lady pray for us,
May St James our patron defend us,
And may St Michael the Archangel fight for us against the powers of darkness.
(cf. Ephesians 6:12)

You are warmly welcome to our services, and we look forward to meeting you.

For further information, please visit:
www.stjamesstpaulcolchester.org.uk