The Chapel of St James, Bream, was built in 1505. By 1712 th population had grown to about 300. The church (picture right) was re-built in 1824 and re-consecrated the next year. It was re-built again in 1860 and, in 1904, further improvements were made including a new south porch and a chancel aisle was added.

Warren James lived much of his life in Bream. He was a miner's leader during the Dean Forest Riots around the time of 1830 when the Government sought to enclose the forest to prevent the Foresters taking wood or grazing their animals. He was initially sentenced to death for his resistance, but this was commuted to transportation to Tasmania.