Welcome to St James the Great, High Wych!
Tucked beside High Wych School and surrounded by village life, St James the Great is a charming and distinctive Victorian church full of character. Designed by architect C.E. Pritchett and consecrated in 1861, its unusually small size only adds to its unique charm and sense of intimacy.
Inside, you’ll find a wealth of beautiful features—from the striking round bell turret topped with its blue “Bennet” clock, to the richly decorated apse and the magnificent two-manual “Father Willis” organ. Every corner of the church reflects its rich heritage and thoughtful design.
As part of the Benefice of High Wych and Gilston with Eastwick, St James is part of a lively and welcoming community. Together, our three churches offer a variety of services, events, and opportunities to connect, worship, and belong.
We’d love you to join us—take a look at our Services and Events pages to see what’s coming up at St James and across the benefice. A warm welcome awaits you!
The parish of St James, High Wych is committed to the safeguarding of children, young people and adults. We follow the House of Bishops guidance and policies and have our own Parish Safeguarding Officer(s), PSOs.
The Diocese of St.Albans’s safeguarding pages contain vital links and information including contacts for the Diocesan Safeguarding Advisor (DSA) who advise our PSOs. If you are concerned that a child or adult has been harmed or may be at risk of harm please contact the DSA. If you have immediate concerns about the safety of someone, please contact the police and your local authority Children or Adults Services.
See our Safeguarding Benefice page for our policy