Church Of St James

GREAT PACKINGTON PACKINGTON PARK SP28SW 8/83 Church of St. James 08/09/61 GV I Church. 1789 by Joseph Bonomi for 4th Earl of Aylesford. Red brick and sandstone dressings. Plain-tiled roof with scrolled modillion eaves cornice. 4 corner towers having stone ashlar to the upper courses above the eaves and surmounted by drumless domes with 2 lunettes, and a ball finial. Central plan of cross in square. Symmetrical elevations, each having a broken pediment above a large tripartite lunette. Doorway in west wall has a stone surround and flat narrow canopy on console brackets. Panelled double doors. Interior: Vaults and walls are faced with painted ashlar. Groin centre and corner vaults with tunnel vaults to the bays at the sides. The groin vault over the centre is carried on Greek Doric columnms with entasis and a piece of triglyph frieze, in red sandstone. Painting of IHS sign in clouds by J.F. Rigaud in white marble pedimented altarpiece. Communion rail also of white marble with symmetrically turned balusters. Organ of 1750 used frequently by Handel when it was in the music room at Packington Hall. (Buildings of England: Warwickshire: p297; M. Binney: Country Life, CXLVIII, p102; VCH: Warwickshire; Vol IV)

Listing NGR: SP2299884076