Very few people seem to have a really correct knowledge of the history of the place, and, for the satisfaction of all and the singular, we will give an account of it, in the exact words of the gentleman who had most to do with the building originally.  Mr. James Fielding deposeth:- St. James’s was erected by the Rev. James Fielding and his friends.  The occasion of its erection was this—­ Vauxhall-road Chapel, in which Mr. Fielding had been preaching four or five years, had become too small for the accomodation of the congregation worshipping there, and it was thought advisable to open a subscription for a new and larger building.  The first stone of St. James’s was laid by Mr. Fielding, May 24th, 1837, and the place was opened for divine worship in January, 1838, under the denomination of “The Primitive Episcopal Church,” [that beats the “Reformed Church,”—­eh?] by the Rev. J. R. Matthews, of Bedford, who was a clergyman of the Established Church.  The building was computed to seat about 1,300 people.  The cost of the place was about 1,500 pounds.  After the opening, Mr. Fielding commenced his ministry in the new church—­the congregation removing from Vauxhall Chapel into that place of worship.  Not long afterwards Mr. Fielding had a severe attack of illness, and was laid aside from his work.  From this, together with the urgency of the contractors for the payment of their bills, it was thought advisable to sell the premises.  The late vicar of Preston, Rev. Carus Wilson, in conjunction with his friends, offered 1,000 pounds for the building.  This was believed to be considerably under its real value, being 500 pounds below the cost amount.  However, under the circumstances it was decided to accept the offer.  The transfer of the premises took place in April, 1838.  Mr. Fielding continued his ministry in Preston in several other places for thirteen years after the erection of St. James’s.

The late John Addison, Esq., of this town, says, in a document written by himself, which we have before us, and which is entitled “Some account of St. James’s Church, in the parish of Preston”—­“A body of Dissenters having erected a large building, capable of holding 1,100 persons, and having opened it for public worship under the name of St. James’s Church, but, being unable to pay the expenses, offered it for sale.  The building being situated directly opposite the Central National School, and in the immediate neighbourhood of the infant school and Church Sunday schools, a few of the committee of the National school thought it desirable that the building should be purchased and made into a church for the accomodation of the children of the schools and of the neighbourhood.”  And the result was the purchase of the Rev. James Fielding’s “Primitive Episcopal Church.”