The Chaplaincy of Oporto was founded in 1671, when the Reverend John Brawlerd, a priest of the Church of England, was employed by the British merchants of Oporto to provide religious services for the British community and to provide for the education of their children. At the time, the Inquisition was still in place and the religious atmosphere of Portugal did not allow Protestants to have a fixed place of worship or to worship openly, so services were held in the homes of various members of the community.

The Strong influence of the Roman Catholic Church during that period also meant that Protestants could not be buried in Catholic cemeteries and, as no Protestant cemetery was allowed, burial took place along the banks of the Douro River. It was not until 1787 that the British Consul John Whitehead was able, with the support of the King of Portugal, to acquire a plot of land outside the city to be used as a burial ground. The first burial took place about 1790. Today, Consul Whitehead’s burial urn stands at the centre of the British cemetery, which he had been so instrumental in securing.

In 1815, shortly after the conclusion of the Peninsula War, the British community was given permission to build a proper place of worship on the property that had been acquired for a burial ground. The church building was completed by 1818 but was not formally dedicated and named St James until 1843, when the then Bishop of Gibraltar, George Tomlinson, came to Oporto to consecrate the structure. However, there were significant restrictions placed on the British community by the Portuguese authorities as to how the church could be constructed. The church building proper needed to be surrounded by a high wall and could not have a spire, cross, nor bell. In fact, in order to further reduce its exposure, the building was constructed to look something like a meeting hall.

In more recent times, the Church, War Memorial, the Commonwealth War Graves in the Cemetery and the annual Remembrance Day Service are frequently attended by visitors, including Members of the British Embassy.

St James Anglican Church

Largo da Maternidade
de Julio Dinis 45

4050-371, Porto

Churchwardens or email: enquiries@stjamesoporto.org Website: www.stjamesoporto.org

Phone (+351)910 423 704