Church Of St James

The Church of St James is a predominantly early 13th-century church with Perpendicular features, located on Main Street in Sutton Cheney. It underwent some Victorian restoration, but this work largely preserved the building's original character. The church is constructed from limestone, with some ashlar detailing and plain tiled roofs. It comprises a west tower, a nave with a south aisle, and a chancel.

The west tower has angle buttresses, a plinth, and a two-stage brick construction, culminating in a short conical roof with a moulded cornice. A 2-light window sits within a hollow-chamfered embrasure on the west wall, above which is a square-headed, foiled light with louvres to the bell chamber. Paired, plain, louvred lights in brick are located in the top stage. The west end of the nave is largely of cobbled construction, while the remainder is of coursed and squared limestone. The south aisle features a plinth, angle buttresses, an oversailing course, and a tall, simply double-chamfered south door. A late Decorated tracery pattern characterizes the aisle windows, which are also equipped with hood moulds. The chancel is distinguished by an added continuous sill band, otherwise sharing a similar construction. Hood moulds to windows and the Priest's door feature figurehead stops; the Priest’s Door has slim shafts to its arch. The east window is a 3-light design. The north wall of the chancel and nave are similarly constructed but are separated by a straight joint.

Inside, the south nave arcade consists of four bays with cylindrical columns, ring-moulded abaci, and double-chamfered arches. The outer chamfer is stopped by small foliate labels. A fitted west tower arch, semi-octagonal in form with double chamfers, includes two doors at upper and lower levels. A simple, shallow-vaulted plaster ceiling covers the nave. The high and wide chancel arch features semi-octagonal responds with partially renewed foliage carved in the 13th century style. South West Chancel windows have blind recesses beneath them, appearing as if for earlier low side windows, although no visible exterior trace exists. A sedilia with simply chamfered arches and a foisted piscina is found under the southeast window. Two aumbries are present, one with an ogival arch set under the northeast window. The east windows are contained in a shafted recess. The Priest’s Door has a carved lozenge frieze around its arch.

Fittings include stained glass in the east window, created by Charles Evans of London in 1905, depicting St Mary and James with the Good Shepherd. The nave contains 18th-century box pews and dado panelling, while the altar rails are located in the chancel. Tombs are found in the chancel, including that of Sir William Roberts (died 1633), featuring an armour-clad effigy on a tomb chest and depictions of his two wives kneeling at a prie dieu. Richard May (died 1635) is commemorated on the south wall, with a kneeling figure also at a prie dieu. An earlier slab with incised lettering and coats of arms commemorates Margaret Neale (died 1563?). A plain round basin is present in the font, and a Commandments Board is in the south aisle.