St James the Great Church was dedicated on 4th June 1844. The designer was Edward Blore who used red brick and stone dressing for the Church. This gave rise to its local nickname the “Red Church”. The bus stop outside the Church was also called the “Red Church”. The Church could seat 600 with ease. Added, over the years, at the rear, were the Church Institute and caretaker cottages.
In its early years a leaking roof led to serious damage to the structure and the Church was closed. After major restoration work, St James the Great Church, now a High Church with Catholic influences, opened again in 1896.
From 1852, the Vicars of St James the Great Church married couples without charge. This act of generosity enabled couples, who could not afford it, to have a Church wedding, thereby helping them keep faith with Christian teachings. After the service the Bride and Groom received a loaf of bread and a six pence piece. This was to help them at the start of their married life. In the 1970s weddings were still free although couples no longer received the loaf of bread or the six pence piece!
To the left of the Church is the printers and publishers J S Forsaith and Son. The Firm had commenced trading in 1834 at 86 Church Street, Bethnal Green. Four years later they moved to the present site at 327 Bethnal Green Road, then a private house. Expansion over the years followed: first at Pollard Row then later at Valence Road. In 1934 the Firm celebrated 100 years' existence and survived until the late 1950s. The house has gone and the site empty.
St James the Great Church survived the Second World War but the Institute and building at the rear received some bomb damage. In April 1984 the Church closed and it was converted into flats in 1991.
