Church Of St James

SO 74 SW COLWALL CP -

3/17 Church of St James

6.3.67

GV II*

Church. C12 with additions by H Woodyer 1865. Grey, brown and red sandstone, tiled roofs. 5 bay nave with south aisle, chancel and vestry by Woodyer, C14 - C15 south west tower in three stages with diagonal buttresses and off-sets. East wall of tower has scars of 3 lancets about 8 feet from the ground reputed once to have contained a statue of a pieta. Timber-framed south porch, probably C17, with ogee-headed wicket-gate. South aisle has restored C13 'Y' tracery and lancets; west nave window is of 3 trefoil headed lights. South entrance has late C13 trumpet capitals with roll moulding over beaded and studded medieval door. Interior: nave of 5 bays with cylindrical columns to C13 south arcade; the 3 western capitals are in grey stone with heads amid stiff-leaves; north arcade is dated 1880. Double collar nave roof, possibly C16, supported by arch-braces and with 2 rows of wind-braces, the lower one cusped on the bottom side. Inserted tie-beam at junction of first and second bay from east is inscribed RM RC/1675 indicating restoration. Font heavily re-cut perhaps C13. Western part of south aisle has 2 sets of wind-braces; C18 hatchment; brass plaque to Elizabeth Harford dated 1590, fragments of late medieval stained glass to head of east window. Pulpit with tester, heavily restored early C17. 3 bay chancel has arch-brace C19 roof, piscina and 'muscular' trefoiled sedile. North aisle: tile in north wall, probably late C13 from Malvern tile works indicating the labour for the month of March; C19 pews inscribed back 'Grocers' School' for local pupils. Wind-brace design to nave roof is very similar to that of the Church of St John, Mathon (qv) which even has a similar but unsigned and undated tie-beam.

Listing NGR: SO7390242309