During the 1850s and 1860s the Thames Valley Railway Line was extended and the Hampton Water Works was built. These two projects brought an enormous number of extra labourers into an area with terrible conditions and with many people living in wooden shacks. There were no facilities or services and so, poverty, drunkenness and violence were widespread.

In 1862, a simple, rectangular building with a nave, a chancel and a small vestry room was erected to serve this rather scattered, outlying village called New Hampton.

When it was finished the Rev. Fitzroy John Fitzwygram was appointed Vicar, and the building was consecrated on December 11th, 1863, by Bishop Tait, Bishop of London.

The Common, as our area was then called, was described as 'a miserable area inhabited by an even more miserable brand of people' and the little district chapelry of St. James as 'a barn of a church in a wilderness of a parish'. The Rev. Fitzwygram and his wife devoted their lives and much of their fortune in improving the living conditions and prospects of the parishioners. Consequently, matters speedily improved and people started flocking to worship in the little church.

By 1872 the population of the parish had greatly increased. The church therefore needed to be enlarged and so during the next twenty years there were many alterations and extensions which changed the little barn into the elegant building we know today. The west porch and north aisle came first, the stained glass windows dedicated to well known parishioners, then an organ chamber and a splendid organ was given by the vicar. The vestry was added and in 1876 the chancel was enlarged and tiled and the beautiful stained glass window was installed above the altar. The south aisle and porch were the last of Rev, Fitzwygram’s additions as he died in 1881. The parable windows in the south aisle were added as a memorial to him.

The great east window (above) represents the Ascension, flanked by the Nativity and the visit of the Magi. The most memorable, however, is the west window, 'The Transfiguration', provided by the parishioners as a memorial to Mr. Fitzwygram.

The marble pulpit was given by Mr. Fitzwygram's successor, the Rev. Henry Bligh.

There are four finely worked mosaic wall panels at either side of the east end of the nave, representing Christ the King, St. James, St. Michael and Mary with the Babe.

The year 1887 being Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee, it was proposed to commemorate the event by the building of the Tower and Spire, so completing the Church. In 1893 the clock and bells were installed. At that time, lighting was by gas and the heating by a coke-fired boiler, later converted to oil-firing and then to gas.

The lych gate (see right) formerly stood nearer St. James's Road but was moved to its present site in the early 1900s.

The interior of the church remained largely unaltered until 1963 when it was brightly painted and varnished. The pews were removed from the south aisle in 1970 and in 1983 the chancel was extended into the nave with an apron stage, the upper section of which can be raised for dramatic performances.

Later came a complete redecoration of the interior, the installation of the present wiring and lighting system and at the same time the stonework was thoroughly cleaned. In 1991 the pews in the north aisle were replaced by separate, comfortable, movable chairs. Further seating can be provided by stackable chairs in the south aisle, allowing for a very flexible seating pattern.

The 1979 speech reinforcement system has been brought up to date with new microphones, an additional speaker and facilities for audio recording and use of tapes and CDs. There is also a TV link to a monitor in the hall.

Originally the churchyard was just the area immediately surrounding the church. However, because of the growing population of the new parish this was found to be too small and in 1882 the vicar of Hampton gave an acre of land next to the church in Park Road to be used as the parish burial ground.
The older part of the churchyard has many fine rare trees.

The War Memorial was erected in 1920 and near it are the Canadian war graves, needed when the Canadian Military Hospital was situated in Bushy Park during the 1914-1918 war.

Since 1992, the churchyard has been closed for burials except for reserved places in existing plots, though the internment of ashes is permissible.

The maintenance of the churchyard is now the responsibility of the Local Authority.

A partial plan of burials and a complete record of the graveyard is kept by the vicar's secretary.

On Sunday 30th October 2005 the Bishop of Kensington threw open the new west entrance doors and led the community into church for Parish Communion. The glass doors give a view of the whole length of the nave and the chancel and the ongoing life within. The Park Road hedge alongside the churchyard was lowered, thus giving an open vista, and discouraging vandalism.

Here too, was the Parish Office, to which anybody can come; to arrange baptisms, weddings, funerals, to hire the Hall, or just to view the church. This was our vision of opening ourselves for all to see, and join in with. In spite of many traumas along the way, that vision is now a reality.