There are very few parish churches that can boast such a range and quality of musical activities, with so many people involved. We are lucky to have a wide range of skilled and keen musicians who contribute to the musical life of the parish. We have a thriving church choir, orchestra (St. James's Players) and children’s choir as well as many other informal music groups. We host concerts by local groups, as well as by visiting musicians, and put on recitals which involves occasional Friday evening recitals, sometimes featuring musicians who are associated with St. James’s and also occasionally including guest artists. See our Recitals and Concerts page for more information. We have a fine three-manual Bishop organ, reworked and extended in 1997. See our Organ page for more details.

People of all ages are involved and the music covers a wide range of styles – truly a mixture of ancient and modern! We are continually keen to widen the range of our musical life and enhance the inclusive value of musical participation. We are particularly interested in expanding the church’s mission through developing musical links with local primary and secondary schools. See our St. James's Young Musicians page for information on the way young people are involved in music at St. James's.

Music takes an important part at Parish Communion each Sunday, at Weddings and Funerals and each year on the following occasions: Ash Wednesday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Easter Day, Ascension Day, Patronal Festival (July), All Souls, Christmas Carol Service, Christmas Eve Crib Service, Christmas Eve Midnight Mass and Christmas Day. Music is also important in occasional services, such as a Service of Music for Ascension, Pentecost and Trinity with music by Philips, Mendelssohn, Monteverdi, Tallis, Sheppard, Stravinsky, Tchaikovsky, Glinka and Palestrina on Trinity Sunday and the Presentation of Christ in the Temple (Candlemas), a Choral Evensong sung by Concordia Voices.

We believe music to be a gift of God and so all music which takes place at St. James's is offered to God in worship and thanksgiving. The ministry of music is an extremely important part of our parish’s life and witness. In this, as in many regards, the church is a major focus in the local community. Local schools, community organisations and other music-makers seek to use the church for musical occasions.

The church has also become a rehearsal venue and is home to the chamber choir Concordia and the Brodowski Quartet. Concordia is a professionally directed, amateur chamber choir of approximately forty voices. Its repertoire spans over four centuries, from the Renaissance to the present day, and includes a wide range of sacred and secular music. The choir is based in Hampton Hill, rehearses in St. James's and has performed many concerts in the church. It has also sung during some services and given a Good Friday Meditation of verse and music, including the Allegri Miserere.

This musical life flourishes and has a Music and Worship Committee which meets several times a year to oversee the various activities and help with their planning.