Church Of St James

MORPETH NEWGATE STREET (off) NZ 1986 (East side)

22/253 Church of St. James

11.8.50

GV II*

Church. 1842-6 by Benjamin Ferrey. Ashlar with Welsh slate roof. Romanesque style. A large and impressive church. Cruciform with nave and chancel aisles and crossing tower.

West end has portal with 2 orders of columns, 2 round-headed windows above and intersecting arches on second floor; flanking bays rise to form octagonal towers with short stone spires.

5-bay nave. North porch with 2 orders of columns and chevron mouldings. Shafted windows with cushion capitals and roll-moulded arches. Clerestory windows have beakhead in the arches. Round-arched corbel table to aisle; nave has corbel table with chevron moulding.

Large central tower with 2-light bell openings under high round arch and with flanking blank arches. Above this the wall is carved in imitation of tilework. Round stair projection in north-west corner rises above parapet as a turret. Apsidal chancel has arcade of round arches beneath eaves and billet frieze above.

Interior: Nave arcade has quatrefoil piers; chancel piers are round. Glass by Wailes. Frescoes in the chancel by Clayton and Bell.

Listing NGR: NZ1980486238