He was the son of Major Richard Martin Meredith (1792–1869) and his wife Adelaide (1803–1870), daughter of James Creed (1756–1844) of Uregare (also known as Newlawn House), near Kilmallock, County Limerick.
His mother's family had lived at Ballygrennan Castle near Kilmallock, since the 17th century but her uncle divided up the land after his only daughter, Mrs Eliza (Creed) Bowyer Bower, removed with her husband to Iwerne Minster House, Dorset.
He was knighted in 1899 in recognition of his services to education, and in 1910 attended the coronation of George V. Throughout his life, Meredith had taken an interest in the welfare of the Church of Ireland, and for many years he was an attendee at the annual meetings of the General Synod in Dublin.
His views on the financial business of the Church always commanded attention,[citation needed] which led him to be appointed Chancellor of the diocese of Limerick and one of the two honorary lay secretaries to the Synod.
[citation needed] When the Church of Ireland made an appeal on behalf of the Auxiliary Fund, which was established to provide against losses in investments in consequence of the depreciation of Irish land stock, Meredith gave assistance.
He was also a member of the Representative Church Body of Ireland, and took a part in the compilation of the reports which were annually issued.
The Masonic Veterans' Association said "there were few more familiar figures in the public life of Dublin than Sir James Creed Meredith".
Richard Graves Meredith (the eldest son of his uncle Thomas Meredith), by his second wife Eleanor, daughter of Eliza Scott of Coolmain Castle and John Howe J.P., of Glanavirane House, Howe's Strand; High Sheriff of County Cork.