St James Garlickhythe is a Grade I listed church in the City of London, with origins dating back to the medieval period. Much of the current structure dates from 1682-87 when it was rebuilt by Sir Christopher Wren following the Great Fire of London, although the tower was added later in 1714-17 to the designs of Nicholas Hawksmoor. Its unusual name references the hythe, or small port, which was once located nearby in the Middle Ages, where garlic and other goods were unloaded from the River Thames. The church is also affectionately nicknamed “Wren’s Lantern” due to its numerous windows and notably bright interior.

The church suffered relatively minor damage during the Second World War, but extensive repairs to address death watch beetle infestation necessitated its closure from 1954 to 1963. In 1991, the church was temporarily closed again following an unfortunate accident in which a crane from a nearby construction site crashed through the south transept.

CCA are leading an ambitious project to reorder the interior and repair the exterior envelope of the building. Internally, proposals include the introduction of a new display area within the narthex, a draught lobby, and dedicated office space within the organ gallery, alongside a refreshed decorative scheme. Externally, the works involve reroofing of the nave, improvements to rainwater goods and masonry cleaning and repairs.