St James was closed in 1972. It was the original home of the Night Shelter, from 1972 until it moved to St Martin-at-Oak in 1976.

In 1978 it was converted for use as a puppet theatre, a use which continues. Much has been done here: the nave has become the auditorium with raked seating (from a Cardiff cinema), while the chancel provides the performance space, with both trenches and bridges for different kinds of puppets. An octagonal extension was added in 1980 to provide extra storage and rehearsal space.