History:

The Parish of Riccarton St James' was separated from the Parish of St Michael and All Angels in 1910. At first the new parish used a wooden building in Peverel Street which had been designed by A & S Luttrell and built in 1907. This was accidentally burned down in 1921. The parishioners were persuaded to build their replacement church on a 2 acre site on the corner of Riccarton Road and Mandeville Street.

The Church of St James' the Great is now a tranquil oasis amongst the commercialism of Riccarton Road, but in the early 1920's it was in the heart of Riccarton Village. Riccarton Road began with Nancy's Hotel and a cluster of shops by Hagley Park, and the village finished at about Matipo Street (Riccarton Mall). Large homes on big sections lined the road, broken only by a few more shops at the Clarence Street/Straven Road intersection with Riccarton Road. Farmland then stretched both sides of the road to Church Corner.

The Church Building:

The Church building was started in 1923 to provide a permanent centre for Anglican worship.

As well as a place of worship, the new Church was to be a memorial to those local men who had died in World War I. The architects were Alfred and Sidney Luttrell who together designed a number of notable New Zealand buildings. For St James', Alfred Luttrell, a parishioner, returned to the simpler early English Gothic style.

St James' is build of brick, with the walls clad on the outside with Halswell stone and facings of cream Oamaru stone. The roof is Welsh slate. Around the outside of the Church are various cherbim - look at them carefully, each of them has an individual face, thought to be likenesses of those who planned or constructed the Church.

Church Furnishings:

Inside the Church there are a number of notable features. The pulpit and the Lord's Table, are made of oak (much of which came from the Dean's property - Riccarton Bush). In the 1920's oak was considered to be a superior timber to the native kauri which is used for the pews for the congregation.

The organ which is a fine instrument was built before 1881, it was purchased from St Barnabas, Fendalton, when that parish installed a bigger organ. It was largely refurbished in 1981.

Many of the furnishings are memorials. The font is a memorial to the Luttrell's daughter Nellie, who died at the age of 16. There are also six memorial stained glass windows. Those on the east end and the north side were installed in the 1920's. The east window designed by William Morris and Co depicts the Ascension of the Lord, Jesus Christ, to heaven, while his eleven remaining disciples and his mother Mary remain on earth. This window is notable for the many shades of blue used in it. The western most window on the north side is a picture of the Good Samaritan with the inscription 'Blessed are the merciful.' On its right is a window illustrating the text 'Blessed are the pure in heart.' The next two windows illustrate the text 'Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me.' All these windows were designed and built in England. The sixth stained glass window opposite the main entrance depicts St James beside the River of the Water of Life. It was designed and built in Christchurch by Rena Jarosewitsch in November 1987 in memory of Leslie Parker, a very active member of the parish for many years.

On the right hand side of the nave of the Church is a memorial headed 'Pro Patria' - this lists the names of the men of Riccarton who died in the 1914-1918 war. The candles and cross displayed hare are known as the Sling Camp set - Sling Camp being the military camp in England which New Zealand soldiers used when not fighting in France or Belgium.

Interior Painting:

The most notable feature of the interior is the paintings on the ceiling. Symbols have been a method of communication through the ages. The logo is a modern version of the same thing. The kind of decoration which wa have in St James' was common in buildings in medieval England. It can still be seen in guild-halls and other secular buildings but the decorations in the churches were whitewashed over, during the time of the 17th century puritan government.

In the late 1940's it was decided to paint similar motifs in St James'. Some designs are symbolic, others are simply decoration. The centre of each of the great arches bear heraldic shields showing various major motifs. They begin with (from the east end) a shield with Alpha and Omega (the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet) and the Roman cross symbolises the words of Jesus, 'I am the beginning and the end'. The next shield bears the coiled snakes of St Hilda, abbess if Whitby, who rid the countryside of a plague of serpents. The third depicts crossed spears which are a symbol of authority. The fourth shield bears the symbol of St James, three scallop shells. Other major motifs used in the central arches are the Lion of Judah, symbolising the majestry and power of Christ; and the letters IHS superimposed on each other (IHS are the first three letters of the name 'JESUS' in Greek). Among many other religious symbols used around the top of the walls and on the roof trusses are lillies (the virgin Mary), the cedars of Lebanon (the tree of life) and the six pointed Star of David. The X is also a religious symbol - it is the first letter of the title Christ in Greek; and Christ, the true vine, is depicted by grape leaves. The Y cross is another ecclesiastical symbol repeated from the Canterbury Coat of Arms. The Chancel roof has been painted blue and decorated like the southern sky complete with Southern Cross.

Also in the 1940's the Church grounds were redesigned. The hedge fronting Riccarton Road was removed and a curved driveway lined with roses and centring on another war memorial (this time to the soldiers of World War II) was put down. Thus the original concept of a memorial church was continued.

All that has been done at St James' has been done to the glory of God. We take joy in sharing its beauty with you.

"And so I purpose to build a House for the name of the Lord my God" 1 Kings 5:5

"My House shall be a House of Prayer" Matthew 21:13

A short history of the Parish of Riccarton-St James' 1906-1999 - Faith and Vision - by Jean Ross. This book can be purchase for $10 either at St James' Anglican Church or by emailing us at stjamesricc@orcon.net.nz.

Riccarton St James', 69 Riccarton Road, Riccarton, Christchurch 8011, New Zealand

Telephone: +64 3 348 4368, email: stjamesricc@orcon.net.nz