Church Of St James

Church of St James

Parish church dating from the 12th, 13th and 14th centuries, restored in 1868. Built of sandstone rubble with sandstone dressings, with stone slate and tiled roofs. The building comprises a north-west tower, an aisled four-bay nave with a north vestry and south porch, and a two-bay chancel.

The tower has a saddleback roof and four external stages above a deep battered plinth with moulded string. The west elevation features one central trefoil-headed opening to each of the bottom two stages. A blocked square-headed opening with a clock face is set to the third stage, with a large square-headed opening to the top stage. A gable separated from the top stage by a moulded string contains a small central loop. The north elevation has a central trefoil-headed lancet to the bottom stage above the plinth and a rectangular opening to the top stage. The east elevation displays a trefoil-headed opening to the top stage and a loop in the gable. The south elevation has a trefoil-headed opening above the plinth over a low moulded doorway with a two-centred head and two shafts on octagonal bases, a rectangular opening to the third stage, and a trefoil-headed opening to the top stage.

The north nave aisle has a continuous catslide roof from the nave. To the west side are two square-headed traceried windows, the right one with two restored ogeed lights and the left with three lights, separated by a weathered buttress. A 19th-century vestry to the centre is gabled with a central lancet, and its western return has a similar opening with a ledged oak door and elaborate strap hinges. To the east of the vestry is a 3-light ogeed window. The north-east corner has low weathered angle buttresses. The east window has a chamfered two-centred arch and three stepped cinquefoil-headed lights.

The chancel's north elevation has a lancet to the right-hand side and, to the left, a 2-light traceried window with cinquefoil-headed lights and a quatrefoil above. To the left of this window is a small 19th-century opening with a four-centred head. A clasping buttress stands at the left corner. The east window has three trefoil-headed lights with a large trefoil in the tracery above, and low clasping buttresses to the north-east and south-east corners. The south elevation has similar openings to those on the north side. To the left of the lancet in the angle with the south aisle is an angled projection with a loop lighting stairs to the former rood loft.

The south aisle has a continuous catslide roof from the nave, a moulded plinth and weathered angle buttresses. Its windows correspond to those of the north aisle except there is no east window. Four buttresses are present, the one to the left bearing a sundial. The west elevation of the nave features a 12th-century string in the form of a rope moulding on either side of a tall window with a two-centred head and three ogeed and trefoiled lights, sexfoiled tracery and a moulded label. Beneath the window is a round 12th-century arch, formerly a doorway, with chamfered imposts and a rectangular incised pattern on the label.

The south porch is restored with elements of 14th-century trusses. It comprises one bay with arch braces and cambered ties. The entry side has enriched bargeboards. The south doorway has a two-centred arch and continuous square moulding, with a nail-studded oak door bearing strap hinges.

The interior features wagon roofs throughout. The chancel roof is ceiled with rich 19th-century decoration featuring repeated "Alleluia" inscriptions. The nave roof is open with two large moulded tie beams. The aisle roofs are supported by struts rising from the arcades.

The chancel contains a piscina with a trefoiled head and octofoil drain. A blocked tomb recess on the north side has a chamfered arch. The reredos incorporates 17th-century panelling with arch motifs and caryatids. A late 16th-century communion table with bulbous legs is present, as are two early 17th-century chairs with acanthus decoration, one with its contemporary footstool. 19th-century choir stalls have attached 17th-century panelling.

Brasses on the north wall include one to William Leviot dated 1421, depicting a priest, and another to Francis Smalman who died in 1633, showing the deceased and his wife facing each other beneath a canopy with drapes and trumpet-bearing cherubs, with gallants kneeling as weepers beneath. A large panelled organ richly painted with exposed pipes and a manual pump was donated by John and Mary Cheese for John Clutton in 1885. Enriched 19th-century terracotta floor tiles are laid throughout. A late 19th-century east window contains stained glass depicting The Last Supper and The Resurrection, created for John Clutton and his wife Mary. A late 19th-century north-east window was made for Isabella Clarke.

The chancel arch dates from 1868 and comprises a two-centred arch of two orders with head stops and the inner order supported on shafts, all richly painted. The chancel screen, possibly from the 16th century, has two moulded panels on either side of the entry with quatrefoil enrichment.

The nave has a north arcade with octagonal piers and two-centred arches with two chamfered orders. The south arcade has arches with continuous roll mouldings and bands at the springing points. Above both arcades is 19th-century wall painting with foliated patterns and repeated "IHS" inscriptions. A 19th-century pulpit incorporates 17th-century panels with Flemish figured bas-reliefs, four large acanthus feet, and oak steps, both possibly from the 17th century. The font is 19th-century, featuring four shafts clustered around a large central shaft with an octagonal bowl. The west window depicts Saints Thomas and Cecilia and is dated 1904.

Beneath the west window stands a large wall monument by Nicholas Read erected for Sir John Morgan who died in 1767. It is constructed of grey and white marble with an almost life-size angel leaning on a portrait bas-relief bust of Morgan's wife Anne, who died in 1764.

G. F. Bodley designed the painted decoration of the chancel, organ and nave arcades, which were executed by the Reverend Frederick Andrews, incumbent from 1873 to 1920. Bodley's monument stands in the churchyard near that of Andrews.