02/09/2015
The first services were held in 1845 using the then DRC. In 1848 fund-raising began towards the building of a church for the Anglican Community, with a donation of 7pounds and 10 shillings from the Revd.Andrew Murray of the DRC. Using plans drawn up by Sophie Gray wife of Bishop Gray, the church was completed in 1850 at a cost of One thousand six hundred pounds. The present chancel and sanctuary were completed in 1868.
The present bell used to call worshippers to services is one cast from three bells donated in 1876 and recast and hung in 1894 when the porch was altered to its present form.
A small pipe organ was purchased in 1873. In 1893 what is now the Lady Chapel was built to house an organ purchased from a Mr. Hotchkiss of Natal where it had been built into his home. This had originally come from a Church in London by which time some of its pipe-work was already over 100 years old. In 1975 after a rebuild it was moved to its present position in the church.
In 1854, the Revd.William Long, the first Rector of St.James was succeeded by the Revd.W.A.Steabler, who is the longest serving Rector (40 years), dying in 1894. A plaque to his memory can be seen on the wall behind the Lectern. In 1894 the Rectory was built in his memory at a cost of one thousand pounds.
In 1845 with the coming of the first Rector, land had been granted to the church as a site for a school, a cemetery and as glebe land to supplement the minister's income. This is the land presently occupied by the Union High School and its playing fields. St.James still retains possession of the cemetery.
St.James has been closely associated with education in the town. In 1896 there was an St.James High School for girls with boarders and day scholars. In 1919 the English- speaking section of Graaff- Reinet felt the need for a purely English medium school which was established in the Parish Hall.This grew and later moved to Bourke St. and later to the present Union High. The banner of the original St.James School can be seen in the foyer of Union High. In keeping with this tradition, the present Union Pre-primary School was started in St.James Hall by the wife of the then Rector in 1980, moving to its present premises in 1984.
The present fittings date from different periods: the pews from 1885, the altar and reredos from 1891, the pulpit from 1935, the fine lectern is unfortunately undated. Following a collection in thanksgiving for the end of the 1st.World War, the chancel screen was carved and installed in memory of those who had served in that war. In 1989 Die Middelandse Regiment, in which many from the parish and district had served in the 2nd.World war, placed a plaque in memory of their fallen comrades. Above this plaque are the Regimental colours laid up after the Regiment was disbanded in the 1950's. Alongside the plaque may be seen a photograph of His Majesty King George VI presenting these colours to the Regiment. Other plaques comemmorate those who lost their lives in various wars, the Boer war,1st. and 2nd. World Wars.
In 1996 St.James Church was declared an Historical Monument.
The stained glass windows date from around the turn of the century. In the chancel are three windows which came from the Russell Road Methodist Church in Port Elizabeth which had been taken down in order that the street could be widened. These were inserted in 1982.
The previous organ chamber was converted in the late 1970's into a 'Lady Chapel' and is used for week-day services.
Sunday Services are held at 7.30a.m. and 9.00a.m. each week; with a service on the 1st.Sunday of the month at 11.00a.m. at the Chapel at Kendrew; the 4th.Sunday at 11.00a.m. at the church in Aberdeen; and every 2nd.month at 11.00 at the church in Steytlerville.
