The Fraternity of St James
The Fraternity of St James was founded on 25 July (St James Day) 1375 as a parish Guild for men and women (known as Brothers and Sisters) and we celebrated its 650th Anniversary in 2025. It was, like all other religious Guilds, dissolved in 1549, but in this special anniversary year it is being revived to be a body of Friends and Associates of St James Garlickhythe.
A brief history of the Fraternity
The Medieval Fraternity (1375)
IN 1375, a group of parishioners founded a fraternity in the Church of St James Garlickhythe. Its aims were to honour God, Our Lady, All Saints, and St James the Apostle; to care for the souls and lives of its members; and to “nourish more love among the brethren and sisters.” Members contributed dues, gathered for an annual feast, and supported one another in hardship. The Statutes of the Fraternity were, as with all Guilds, sent in return by order of Richard II in 1389. This was recorded by John Strype in his 1720 edition of John Stow’s Survey of London and the document still survives, alongside other similar returns, in the National Record Office.
Activities and Discipline
The original statutes describe a structured and active community. Members paid an entrance fee, annual quarterage, and contributed to a common box for charitable relief. Wardens were elected to keep accounts. Members met annually and were “clothed in suit” for feast days. Disorderly behaviour could lead to temporary expulsion.
The Fraternity Today
The modern revival honours this heritage by supporting the building, community, and mission of St James Garlickhythe. While adapted for contemporary life, the Fraternity retains the spirit of fellowship and service that animated the medieval brethren and sisters.
The revived Fraternity is governed by the Master (who is always the Rector), and the two Wardens mentioned in the ancient statutes alongside other members, who together constitute the Court. It is run by the Clerk who is always the first point of contact.
The ancient Statutes of the Fraternity of St James Garlickythe
AD 1375
IN the Worship of God Almighty our Creator, and his Moder Saint Marie, and Allhallows and Saint James Apostle, a Fraternite is begon of gode Men in the Church of Saint James the Yer of our Lord 1375, for Amendement of her Lyves, and of her Sowls, and to nourish more Love among the Brethren and Sustrein of the Brederhede. And ech of theym had sworen upon the Book to performe the Pointes undernethe at her Power.
FYRST, All who wisscheth, other schul be in the same Brederhede, they schul nothing of goodloos Conditions and Bering: and that he love God and holy Chirche, and his Neybours, as holy Chyrch maketh mencion.
WHO that entreth in the same Fraternite, he shal geve at the Entrie to the common Box vi s. viii d.
THE foreseid Brethrehede will, that there be Wardeyns thereof. Which Wardeyns shal gather the Quartridge of the Bretheren and Sustren, and trewelick yield her Account thereof every Yer once, to the Wardeyns that have been tofore hem of the Bretherhede, with other wysest of the Bretherhede.
ALSO the Bretheren and Sustren every Yer shul be clothed in Suyt and every Man pay for that he hath.
ALSO the Bretheren and Sustren, at one Assent in Suyt byforeseid shul every Yer commin hold togeder, for to nourish more Knowledg and Love, a Feast. Which Feast shal be the Sonday after the day of St James Apostle, and every pay their xx d.
AT four Tyme other once in the Yer two Shill. at firmast tofore the Day of the Account of the Maisters. So that the Wardeyn mowe her Account yelderlich, etc.
EVERY Brother or Suster that ben of the Fraternite, yf he be of Power, he shal geve somewhat in Maintenance of the Fraternite, what hym lyketh.
ALSO yf ther be in Bretherhede ony Riotour, other Contekour other soche by whom the Brether-hede might be enslaundered he shal be put out thereof, into Tyme that he have hym amended of the Defoults beforeseyd, etc.
YF any of the forseid Bretherhede falle in soch Mischefe that he hath noght, ne for Elde other Mischefe of Feebleness helf himself: and have dwelled in the Bretherhede seven Yeres, and doen thereto al the Duties within the Tyme: every Wyk aftyr, he shal have of the common Box xiiii d. Terme of his Lyfe: but he be recoveryd of the Mischefe.
ALSO if any of the foreseid be imprisoned falsely by any other by false Conspiracie, and have noght for to fynd hym with, and have also ben in the Bretherhede seven Yeres, etc., he shall have xilid. during his Imprisonment every Wyk.