St James RC Church

About

Built between 1836 and 1840 St James Roman Catholic Church was built from designs by A. W Pugin architect of the Palace of Westminster.  The church is located next to Reading Abbey ruins, between Forbury Gardens and Reading Gaol, ​​​​and is home to a modern statue of St James.  The statue is set within a new shrine and features a one scallop shell on St James left shoulder.  The scallop theme continues within a glass medallion in the windows with the figure of St James and a coat of arms with three scallop shells. 

This church is the starting point for the St James Way long-distance walking trail linking Reading, Berkshire to Southampton, Hampshire. You can get your first trail passport stamped here.  The scallop is the symbol of the pilgrims to Santiago and is also the symbol on the waymarker signs along the 68.5 mile route.