History

St James' Church was founded on this site in 1546. The present building dates back to 1763 but with some later additions. There is a peal of 12 bells and these are still rung regularly. Sunday services are held every week, and a Food Bank and homeless drop-in operate during the week. Civic services also take place here, including the annual Mayor-making service. The area to the east of the church has now been turned into a memorial garden for the Accrington Pals. The building preparing for a major re-ordering. Much of the effort in the past went into supporting the 'new' churches in Accrington, and by the time they got round to thinking about a replacement building the First World War intervened and it never got off the drawing board.

There are some Georgian pews still in the building, but the majority are Victorian pews, with the addition of late-Victorian choir stalls. The Peel family are recorded on marble wall tablets. They lived at Accrington House (no longer in existence) and Knowlmere House at Slaidburn. A short history of the building is available from the church or in the Accrington Library.