★★★★★ 5.0
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Catholic Church of Saint James
Two golden crowns are built right into the wall above you, and real Spanish ROYALTY used to sit beneath them! King Alfonso and Queen Ena of Spain had their special spots here in the early 1900s when they visited this church on George Street. You're standing where an old Spanish embassy chapel once stood centuries ago. See that shimmering Golden Lady statue? She's covered in actual gold leaf except for her bright red shoes, and she was the second statue ever put up in a London church after the Reformation way back in 1840! The entrance behind you copies Lichfield Cathedral's famous door, but here's something totally backwards - this entire church faces the wrong direction compared to almost every other church ever built!
Did You Know?
- The Church of St James, Spanish Place, was originally the chapel of the Spanish Embassy in London, serving as a sanctuary for English Catholics during times of persecution; King Alfonso XIII of Spain’s personal standard still hangs over the sacristy door as a reminder of this unique Spanish heritage and the church’s unofficial, ongoing connection to Spain.
- The present church, opened in 1890, is a striking example of English Gothic architecture, designed by Edward Goldie—great-grandson of the original chapel’s architect—and features rare, elaborate furnishings by Bentley, including five chapels and shrines; despite its grandeur, the church never received its planned tower and spire, yet remains a local landmark due to its height and detailed stonework.
- In 1908, St James’s hosted a requiem Mass for King Carlos I of Portugal, attended by King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra—marking the first time a British monarch attended a Catholic Mass in England since James II in the 17th century, a remarkable moment in British religious and royal history.