Our History

A Pioneering Protestant Church in a Catholic Country

Parishioner Richard Delaforce has created a timeline of key moments in the History of St James Church and the broader British Community in Oporto, to which it is deeply tied. You may review it below.

Important Dates in the History of

St James Church and the British Community in Oporto.

1642 / First British Consul in Oporto

1661 / First Reference to Chaplains in Oporto

1671 - 1807 / Fourteen Chaplains to the British Factory

1691 / First Reference to the Treasurer (British Factory)

1716 / Chaplaincy Records Held at the British Factory

1726 / Birth of John Whitehead, British Consul (1756-1802)

1785 / Building of the Factory House Started (completed 1790)

1787 / Oporto British Hospital Founded (closed 1968)

1787 / Purchase of Cemetery Land

1788 / First Recorded Burial in the Cemetery

1798 / First Headstone Placed in the Cemetery

1802 / Death of John Whitehead

1809 / Birth of Joseph James Forrester

1814 / British Association Established

1814-1824 / One Chaplain to the British Merchants

1815 / Building of the Chapel Started (Completed 1818)

1817 / New Mortuary Chapel Built

1820 / John Whitehead Monument Completed

1825 - 1874 / Two Consular Chaplains

1831 / Font Installed in the Chapel

1842 / Bishopric of Gibraltar Established

1843 / Consecration of the Chapel and Cemetery by the Bishop of
Gibraltar, George Tomlinson. The Chapel named St James

1847 / Building of the Gallery with Organ

1855 / Oporto Cricket Club (later OCLTC) Founded

1861 / Death of Joseph James Forrester, Baron of Portugal

1866 / Chancel Window Installed

1866 / Enlargement of the Chapel Started (Completed 1868)

1866 / New Mortuary Chapel Built

1866 / Oporto British Rowing Club (OBRC) Founded (closed 1955)

1869 / St James Becomes Part of the Diocese of Gibraltar (Formed 1842)

1875 – 2021 / Twenty One Chaplains to St James

1876 / New Register of Graves Started

1890 / Choir and Organ Moved From the Gallery to the Body of the Church Oporto Niblicks (Golf) Club (OGC) Founded

1891 / Distressed British Subjects Fund (later BCF) Established

1894 / Oporto British School (OBS) Founded

1899 - 1939 / Three Chaplains Were also the Headmasters of the OBS

1903 / Brass Eagle Lectern Presented to the Church

1903 / Oporto British Club (OBC) founded. Merged with the OCLTC in
1967

1922 / War Memorial Completed, with Names of the British Community – 25 From World War 1 and 7 From World War 2.

1926 - 1936 / Eight Stained Glass Windows Installed

1929 / Name of British Episcopal Church of St James Discontinued

1931 - 1939 / Monthly Parish Magazine

1935 / New Vestry Consecrated

1938 / Concert Given by Guilhermina, Suggia

1941 / Commonwealth War Graves Commission

1942 / 7 RAF

1944 / 3RCAF & 1 RAAF Airmen

1957 / Visit of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

1974 / New Organ Installed

1979 / Visit of Princess Anne

1984 / Visit of Margaret Thatcher, British Prime Minister

1985 / Visit of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth 11

1987 / Visit of the Prince and Princess of Wales

1990 / Visit of Princess Alexandra

1991 / Inauguration of the Well House

1998 / Well Magazine Started (printing ceased 2022)

2005 / British Consulate Closed

2014 / Extension of the Well House Completed (Blessing in 2015)

2015 / New Church Booklet Printed

2019 / Joseph James Forrester Plaque Installed

2022 / War Memorial Restored

2023 / New Organ Installed