Church Of St James

SD 66 NW TATHAM

2/74 Church of St.James (formerly listed as 4-10-1967 Church of St James the Less) GV II*

Church, Cl5th, with C13th and Norman remains, tower reconstructed in 1722, and extensive restoration in 1885-7 by Paley and Austin. Sandstone rubble with stone slate roof. Comprises a west tower, a nave and chancel under a continuous roof, a south porch, a north aisle and a north-east vestry and organ chamber. The tower has a plinth and 2 set-backs. Its saddleback roof was added in 1885 and has stone gables to the north and south. The bell openings on the east and west sides are of one cinquefoiled light. On the east and west sides they are of 2 lights with tracery under flat heads. The west window of the north aisle has a trefoiled head and appears to be original. The south wall has a 3-light window to the nave and 3 of 2 lights to the chancel. All have pointed heads with Perpendicular tracery. The lower part of the right-hand window, below a transom, is blank. Between nave and chancel there is a buttress. The outer porch doorway is pointed and chamfered in 2 orders. At the apex of the gable is a rectangular slate sundial plate. The inner doorway, although restored, appears to be C12th and has a round arch, angle shafts with scalloped capitals, and carved decoration. On the north side there are aisle windows of 3 and 2 trefoiled lights under flat heads. Between them is a doorway with pointed arch. To the left the gabled organ chamber has a window of 3 lights with Perpendicular tracery and pointed head. To the left the roof continues at a lesser pitch to cover the vestry, which has a 2-light pointed window with Y-tracery and a door with pointed head. The chancel east window is probably late C13th and is of 3 lights with intersecting tracery. Interior has 3-bay arcade with pointed arches chamfered in 2 orders. The octagonal piers with moulded capitals and bases are said by the VCH to be C12th. The capital of the western pier is crudely carved with symbols. The C19th roof has queen post trusses with intermediate principals with arch-braced collars. The eastern bay of the arcade is within the chancel, which is divided from the nave by a carved timber screen. A medieval grave cover is set into the chancel floor. The triple sedilia and piscina were discovered and reconstructed during the restoration and have trefoiled heads. The choir stalls, pews and pulpit are by Paley and Austin and have some carved tracery decoration. The octagonal sandstone font has carved decoration.

Listing NGR: SD6059469421