Historical Background to the Church Building
The orginal building of 1863 was a simple structure, with a nave 67 feet x 24 feet, less than half its current width of 56 feet. As the village, and consequently the congregation, grew so did the building, starting in 1873 with a northern aisle and an outer porch at the west entrance. The next five years saw the addition of a new vestry and organ chamber, the lengthening and repaving of the chancel, and the completion of the south porch and south aisle. Later the vestry door was moved from the chancel to the south aisle, the heating “apparatus” improved and the roof repaired. In 1887, Queen Victoria's jubilee year, work was started on building the tower and spire, and these were completed the following year. The church, but initially not the vestry, was originally heated by a coke-fired boiler, later converted to oil-firing and then to gas. It was lit by gas until electric lighting was installed in 1904. New acorn shaped lights were given to the church in 1923 and these remained till the early 1990s when they were replaced by the present red purpose-built chandeliers.

Five yearly church inspections were instituted and different architects reported that the condition of the church was poor, mainly due to the poor materials used. A “Great Renovation Drive” in 1953 facilitated extensive and urgent repairs but the roof still leaked causing wet and dry rot. This was rectified in 1962 and the church was entirely re-roofed two years later making it really waterproof for the first time. Further defects were also remedied and this was followed by extensive interior decoration. In 1970 the south aisle was opened up by the removal of the pews. In 1983 the chancel floor was extended with an apron stage that could be raised for dramatic performances. A second, portable, altar could then be placed on the stage in front of the chancel for parish services, leaving the High Altar in the Sanctuary. In the 1990s further re-decoration and conservation work was carried out, and the north aisle pews replaced by chairs, allowing for a more flexible seating pattern. A new west porch, which included a parish office, was constructed between 2004 and 2006.

For a more detailed account, read the page The History of St. James's Church Building.