Church Of St James

SD 72 SE HASLINGDEN CHURCH STREET

5/87 Church of St. James - GV II

Church, 1780, enlarged and tower added 1827, altered later C19. Watershot coursed sandstone with rusticated quoins, slate roof. Nave with full-height aisles, west tower. Embattled tower of 3 unequal stages, each slightly set back, has small diagonal west buttresses, double-chamfered round-headed west doorway, round-headed openings with Y-tracery: one window over door, one on each of 3 exposed sides at 2nd level, and one belfry louvre on each side; 3 clock faces below belfry; pinnacles missing (removed 1951). Seven-bay aisles (2 easternmost added 1827), 2 storeys, all windows round-headed with imposts and keystones; small gabled porch to 2nd bay on each side. East end has large 2-centred arched 5-light window with transom and traceried head (1866). Interior: full-length auditorium, with colonnades of octagonal columns rising through 3-sided raked gallery with panelled front (of 1878); pointed wagon roof to nave, flat ceilings to aisles; low double-chamfered tower arch (surviving from C16 building) 3 large hatchments above; chancel in 2 easternmost bays differentiated only by attached moulded arch carried on slim roll-moulded piers, carved screen between these, and by decorated ceiling; carved wooden pulpit raised on unusually high pedestal and approached by similarly decorated stairs, by George Shaw of Saddleworth and exhibited by him in Great Exhibition 1851; organ by Willis of London 1878, enlarged and rebuilt 1923; C16 octagonal font with moulded pedestal, and shields in each face variously bearing arms of donor Elizabeth Holden, initials EH, arms of Towneley Towneley of Royle, a goat collared and belled (arms of Stansfield family), a pair of shears, a heart-shaped face with hands and legs (etc.).

Listing NGR: SD7858323597