St James Church, St Andrews

St James Church is a Roman Catholic church located at 17 The Scores in St Andrews, built with stone walls and distinctive large windows. The building sits close to the North Sea shoreline, creating a striking presence in the coastal townscape.

Architect Reginald Fairlie designed this building in 1910 as a permanent stone replacement for an earlier corrugated iron chapel serving the Catholic community. This transition from a temporary to a substantial structure reflected the growing presence of Catholics in the town.

The church serves as a spiritual gathering place where local residents and university students come together for worship and community celebrations. Visitors can observe how this space remains central to the Catholic life of the town.

The church sits directly on the coastal path, making it easy to spot when walking along The Scores. Services are held regularly throughout the week, so visiting times should be planned around the active schedule of worship.

This building holds the distinction of being among the most northerly Catholic churches on Scotland's eastern coast, marking a significant spiritual outpost. Its location along the shoreline places it in an unusual setting for a faith community in such a remote region.