The History of St James's Clergy
• When the church was built, the Revd Fitzroy John Fitz Wygram 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. Including the Revd Fitz Wygram there have been nine previous vicars at St James's Church from its consecration until 8th November 2016.
Revd Fitzroy John Fitz Wygram 1863 - 1881
Hon & Revd Henry Bligh 1881 - 1893
Revd Charles Robert Job 1894 - 1914
Revd Richard Coad-Pryor 1914 - 1923
Revd Frederick Pearce Hope Harvey 1923 - 1950
Revd Rupert Hoyle Brunt 1951 - 1980
Revd John Nicholas Chubb 1981 - 1988
Revd Prebendary Dr Brian Leathard 1989 - 2006
Revd Canon Peter Vannozzi 2007 - 2015
Revd Julian Reindorp, assistant priest, a retired clergyman and a member of the congregation continued to take many different services as he did during the interregnum after Revd Vannozzi.
The Revd Derek Winterburn became our tenth vicar on 8th November 2016. Read about Derek on the page Our Vicar.
Have a look at The Institution and Induction of the Revd Derek Winterburn and see the photo album, Our New Vicar.
• Curates are invested with the care of souls in a parish and there have been many serving at St James's.
St James's Curates through the years shows what happened from when records began up until 2017. The Annual Parochial Church Meeting Reports show the latest reports from most teams and groups.
The Revd Jacky Cammidge became our curate on Sunday July 4th, 2015. After four years as a curate, she was fully qualified so became our Associate Priest.
The History of St James's Parochial Church Council (PCC)
• The administrative committee of an Anglican parish church was called a Vestry from the 16th until the 20th century, when it became the Parochial Church Council. Both the secular and spiritual affairs of New Hampton, as Hampton Hill was first known, were originally overseen by the Hampton Vestry.
The church administration affects what goes on in St James's Church and how it is run and organised.
The PCC through the years shows what happened from when records began up until 2016. The Annual Parochial Church Meeting Reports show the latest reports from most teams and groups.
St James’s Properties Committee is a report on the first forty years since its establishment in 1960/61.
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The clergy |
Revd Fitzroy John Fitz Wygram |
APCM |
The History of St James's Community
• The early history of both St James's Church and its community, the village of Hampton Hill, are inextricably linked. The first vicar, Revd Fitz Wygram, saw his rôle as improving both the spiritual and social conditions of the new parish, and this included developing a wide range of organisations to benefit the community. Some of these were explicitly religious, some were secular in their activities and others bridged the gap between them. However, all were based on his sense of Christian responsibility towards fellow human beings at a time and in a place where there were no other authorities able to take on the task. In this work he was helped by his leading laymen. "They looked after peoples' human rights and dignities, keeping them safe from injustice and encouraging healthy use of leisure."
Our Church in the Community through the years shows what happened from when records began up until 2017. The Annual Parochial Church Meeting Reports show the latest reports from most teams and groups.
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Taking a service at Laurel Dene |
A community Carol Service |
Taking part in Hampton Hill Fair |
The History of St James's Social Life & Groups
• It is not clear to what extent any organised social life existed in the village prior to 1863 but the early history of both St James's Church and the village of Hampton Hill were inextricably linked. The social life and groups of St James's have changed and developed out of all recognition over the years.
The first vicar, Revd Fitz Wygram, saw his role as improving both the spiritual and social conditions of the new parish, and this included developing a wide range of social organisations. There are a number of ways that we still seek to build up the church’s social life, and community.
Social Life through the years shows what happened from when records began up until 2017.
• Over the years, many different groups came and went, and those not directly organised by, or associated with, the church took on a separate life of their own much as they have today.
St James's Groups through the years shows what happened from when records began up until 2017.
The links above show what happened from when records began up until 2017. The Annual Parochial Church Meeting Reports show the latest reports from most teams and groups.
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Connections |
Pop-up Theatre |
Quiz Night |
The History of St James's Children
• Over the years St James's has cared and provided for children and tried to provide a rich experience for them. Right from the beginning of his incumbency, Revd Fitz Wygram showed a keen interest in children and education.
Children through the years shows what happened from when records began up until 2017.
• There have been designated children's services since the earliest days as maintaining children's interest has always been important to St James's.
Family Worship through the years shows what happened from when records began up until 2017.
• The Church’s endeavours to 'catch them young' has always led her to foster activities for young people. Whilst Sunday Schools cater for them in their early years, other organisations are necessary to keep them interested when they grow past this stage and approach the age of confirmation. The youth organisations which existed at the end of the nineteenth century were considerably different in character from those which exist today.
Youth Groups through the years shows what happened from when records began up until 2017.
• The June 1885 magazine reported about the flourishing Sunday School: “The numbers still continue to increase, and in addition to some fifty older ones who attend classes at Mrs Fitz Wygram's and at the Vicarage, there are now two hundred and ninety two upon the books.”
St James's Sunday School through the years shows what happened from when records began up until 2017.
• The 2007 Action Mission Plan aimed to give children and young people every opportunity to become involved in the Christian life by making it more attractive and accessible. So a Carers and Toddlers group was set up and immediately became extremely popular.
St James's Ark through the years shows what happened from when records began up until 2017.
• There have been designated children's services since the earliest days and maintaining children's interest has always been important to St James's.
Family Worship through the years shows what happened from when records began up until 2017.
• Early on in his incumbency, Revd Fitz Wygram discovered that only thirteen children out of a local population of 1,100 went to any sort of school. Having a keen interest in children and education, he made a grant of land in Mill Lane and in 1867 two schools were built at a cost of £315.
St James's Church Schools through the years shows what happened from when records began up until 2017.
• The Hampton Hill Uniformed Groups originally were church organisations and the children regularly attended church services and joined in with various church activities. Around 2014 things changed and the connection between them and the church became looser.
The links above show what happened from when records began up until 2017. The Annual Parochial Church Meeting Reports show the latest reports from most teams and groups.
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Together at Eleven |
Youth Group |
A visiting school group |