Vestry of the Parish of Westminster St James
| Westminster St James | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Area | |
| • 1881 | 815 acres (3.30 km2) |
| • 1901 | 766 acres (3.10 km2) |
| • 1921 | 767 acres (3.10 km2) |
| Population | |
| • 1881 | 29,941 |
| • 1901 | 21,588 |
| • 1921 | 13,644 |
| History | |
| • Origin | Bailiwick of St James |
| • Created | 1685 |
| • Abolished | 1900 (vestry) 1922 (civil parish) |
| • Succeeded by | Metropolitan Borough of Westminster |
| Status | Civil parish |
| Government | St James Vestry (1685–1900) |
| • HQ | Vestry Hall, Piccadilly |
Westminster St James (or St James Picadilly) was a civil parish in the metropolitan area of London, England. The creation of the parish followed the building of the Church of St James, Piccadilly in 1684. After several failed attempts, the parish was formed in 1685 from part of the ancient parish of St Martin in the Fields in the Liberty of Westminster and county of Middlesex. It included part of the West End of London, taking in sections of Soho, Mayfair and St James's. Civil parish administration was in the hands of a select vestry until the parish adopted the Vestries Act 1831. The vestry was reformed again in 1855 by the Metropolis Management Act. In 1889 the parish became part of the County of London and the vestry was abolished in 1900, replaced by Westminster City Council. The parish continued to have nominal existence until 1922.
There were attempts in 1664, 1668 and 1670 to create a new parish, with its own church, from the area of the bailiwick of St James within the ancient parish of St Martin in the Fields. The creation of the new parish was resisted by the vestry of St Martin in the Fields. In 1684 the Church of St James, Piccadilly was constructed which improved the case for providing a new parish.
It was created in 1685 from part of the ancient parish of St Martin in the Fields, and was within the Liberty of Westminster. The parish was included in the returns of the Bills of mortality.
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