In 2024 St James’ Church in Blackburn celebrates its 150^th anniversary and a competition to design a logo for the event was recently held for children of the church and local primary school.

Up until 1873 the site where St James Church now stands was used to dig clay bricks but, being no longer in use, Mr W. T. Carr, a barrister, donated the site for a new church to be built.

The foundation stone was laid on 28 June 1873 for the church and adjoining school. The main church building was completed in 1874 at a cost of around £4200, but it was a further 29 years later that the tower, that everyone can see from far and wide as you come into Blackburn, was added.

Before St James Church was built, people who had moved out from the town centre and wanted to have their own local church, met together in the upper rooms of two hired cottages to worship. But it was with the help of benefactors and donations from many people funds were raised for the build.

To raise the type of funds necessary the congregation would have filled the church for many years with a church choir, music clubs and children’s youth groups.

Many church members over the years have witnessed many changes happening in the surrounding area and in Blackburn as a whole. The church building has endured many changing seasons and remains as a symbol of Christian witness and church members remain committed in sharing the love of Jesus in words and actions.

To mark the upcoming 150-year anniversary, a competition was opened inviting members of the congregation and the St James CE Primary School children to design a logo that we could use to promote the anniversary. The theme was to highlight that we are beacon of light and hope for the community and in the world.

Meanwhile, alongside the competition, children from the school have been visiting the church and churchyard every week to help renovate the grounds and plant new seeds; and building ever closer links between church and school.

For the logo contest, 12 children and one member of the congregation submitted their designs. All the logos were colourful and a great deal of thought on what the church stands for had been put into the designs.

After a long and difficult deliberation, the winning entry was chosen, drawn by Zainab Lehar, age 8, from year 4. When asked what inspired her, she said: “God is omnipresent, he accepts our prayers and comforts us like a big hug.”

Vicar, Rev. Sarah Gill, said: “There was so much creativity in all the logo entries. Thank you to all who took time, worked so hard and submitted the logo. We congratulate Zainab who won the competition.

“We are also so excited to have children helping us develop the churchyard and church gardens to look beautiful. This is the first of our projects to work more closely with St James CE School.’

The head teacher, Doug Stitcher added: “We are delighted to be working closely with our friends at the church. It meant so much to Zainab, the winner of the logo competition, that her beautifully designed logo will be a part of the history of St James' Church forever.

“We are also thrilled to be encouraging the horticulturalists of the future by going into the church grounds every week with some of our children and staff to help renovate the area and plant new seeds for the future. Everybody at the school wishes the whole church community a very happy 150^th anniversary and all the best for the next 150 years!"

Now the church has a logo, merchandise has been produced and is already selling well.

The church hopes to engage with them local neighbourhood and members connected to St James Church from far and wide to join their celebrations. The first event to kick start the run-up to the anniversary was a garden fete that was held in August.

They are not stopping there as there are several events planned leading up to the official anniversary date - June 28, 2024. 

Pictures ... from top

• The new 150th anniversary logo
• Rev. Sarah Gill presents the winner Zainab with her prize
• Children from the primary school hard at work in the churchyard

Ronnie Semley, September 2023