Church Of St James The Great

The Church of St James the Great is an Anglican church located on Church Street in Lower Gornal. It was built between 1815 and 1817 by Thomas Lee, enlarged in 1837, refitted in 1849, and restored in 1899. The church is constructed of dressed stone and features slate and tile roofs. Originally, the chapel of ease had a broad nave without aisles, a gallery at the west end, and a west tower. North and south porches were added around 1837, and the chancel was refitted and added in 1849. The chancel was rebuilt in 1899, and the top stage of the tower was rebuilt in 1930. The church is designed in the Gothic style.

The exterior showcases a broad nave with tall lancet windows and buttresses between them. The west tower has three stages with angle buttresses, and the top stage features two-light bell-openings and battlements, which were rebuilt in 1930. The polygonal chancel also has angle buttresses and is partly rendered.

Inside, the church has plastered walls and an open timber queen-post roof. There is a west gallery supported by thin posts, a large moulded chancel arch, and an arch-braced chancel roof. Notable features include a stone circular pulpit and a polygonal font. An organ was installed in 1899, and the north window of the apse was designed by Ninian Comper in 1902.