St James' Church, Whitehaven

St James' Church is a Georgian church building in Whitehaven featuring a two-story nave with an elliptical apse at its east end. A three-stage west tower incorporates the porch within the main structure, while stone walls with quoins and slate roofs form the exterior.

Carlisle Spedding designed this church in 1752 as a Georgian structure for Whitehaven. It later became the main parish church after a fire destroyed St Nicholas Church in 1977.

The altar painting 'The Transfiguration of Christ' by Giulio Cesare Procaccini originally hung in Spain's royal Escorial palace before arriving here. This treasured work reflects how deeply the community valued artistic excellence in its spiritual space.

Entry is through the west porch at the base of the tower, making access straightforward from the main approach. Large rectangular windows on the sides and Venetian windows in the eastern apse provide good natural light throughout the interior.

Italian craftsmen Arture and Baggiotti created intricate plasterwork across the ceiling with remarkable attention to detail. A local blacksmith built the church's distinctive clock mechanism, which remains a distinctive feature.

Location: Whitehaven

Inception: 1752

Architectural style: Georgian architecture

Website: http://whitehavenparish.co.uk/#/welcome-james/4524437185

GPS coordinates: 54.55080,-3.58340

Latest update: December 14, 2025 14:41