Church Of St James

NZ 26 SW NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE BENWELL LANE (south side) Benwell

11/100 Church of St. James. 17.12.71

G.V. II

Chapel of ease 1832; parish church 1843. By John Dobson; 1864 nave and aisle added, 1879-80 organ chamber and vestry. 1895 additions of spire, choir vestry, porch by Hicks and Charlewood. Coursed squared sandstone with ashlar plinth and dressings; dark slate roof with flat stone gable copings. West tower, north- west porch; aisled nave and chancel. Mostly Norman style. 3-stage tower has round-headed windows in first stage, blank second and arched belfry openings containing 2 round arches and a shared shaft; corbel table to coped parapet with octagonal corner pinnacles; octagonal stone spire with slender gabled lucarnes; double boarded north door, with elaborate hinges, in moulded arch; west door in south aisle in plain round arch of 2 Orders. 5-bay aisles have round-headed windows, paired in north-east bay and in south aisle which has 3 low gabled tomb recesses; 2-bay chancel aisles and tripIe east window. Steeply- pitched roofs to aisles and nave and lower chancel. Interior: painted plaster above wainscoting; queen-post roof with painted stencilled decoration to tie beams on elaborately-shaped brackets. North arcade has simple moulded capitals and slightly chamfered arches; lower south arcade of octagonal piers now blocked to make south aisle into parish hall. Baptistry in tower has Gothic font with granite shaft and quatrefoil bowl. 2-centred chancel arch with inner arch on corbelled, paired shafts; slightly chamfered round arch to Lady chapel. Painted arcaded stone reredos with statues; high-quality brass communion rail commemorates former vicar, F. Jobling.

Listing NGR: NZ2179164080