When the church was built, the Revd. Fitzroy John Fitz Wygram, M.A., was appointed its first vicar and the building was consecrated in honour of St. James on December 11th, 1863, by Bishop Tait, Bishop of London.

There have been eight previous vicars at St. James's Church from its consecration until the present day. The Revd. Fitzroy John Fitzwygram was vicar from 1863 to 1881, the Hon. & Revd. Henry Bligh from 1881 to 1893, the Revd. Charles Robert Job from 1894 to 1914, the Revd. Richard Coad-Pryor from 1914 to 1923, the Revd. Frederick Pearce Hope Harvey from 1923 to 1950, the Revd. Rupert Hoyle Brunt from 1923 to 1950, the Revd. John Nicholas Chubb from 1981 to 1988 and the Revd. Prebendary Dr. Brian Leathard from 1989 to 2006.

The ninth, and current vicar, the Revd. Peter Vannozzi, started his incumbancy in 2007.

Interesting information about members of the laity can be found in the book, 'The Birth and Growth of Hampton Hill'. See The Leading Laity