Church Of St James

The Church of St James is a parish church dating back to the 14th century, with a west tower and north nave arcade. Significant rebuilding and alterations were carried out in 1868 by St Aubyn. The church is constructed of coursed sandstone and limestone, with plain tiled roofs and crested ridge tiles. It comprises a west tower, nave and north and south aisles, north and south transepts, and a chancel.

The west tower is of three stages, retaining original angle buttressing, parapet, and a newel staircase in the north-west angle. The ashlar octagonal spire features two tiers of gable lucarne lights from the 14th century. The west window incorporates three trefoil lights with reticulated tracery set within a two-centred arch. The second stage has single light windows on each side within two-centred arches of two chamfered orders. The bell stage has a two-centred arch leading to a two-light opening on each side, each with a trefoil head.

The nave was rebuilt in 1868 and features a clerestory of five windows to each side, each containing two trefoil lights. The south aisle features windows with three trefoil lights in ogee arches and square heads. A gabled and buttressed south porch has a two-centred outer arch of two moulded orders. The south transept has a three-cinquefoil light window with a foiled head, while the chancel east window has five cinquefoil lights in a foiled head.

Inside, the C14 west tower arch is of three continuously moulded orders. The north arcade from the same period consists of four bays with two-centred arches of two hollow moulded orders on octagonal columns, incorporating moulded capitals and bases. A continuous label features mask stops. The south arcade, dating to 1868, has four bays with two-centred arches on columns with moulded capitals and bases and a continuous label with mask stops. The north and south transepts are from the 19th century. The nave roof is of braced collar rafter construction with Queen struts and two tiers of curved wind bracing to the purlins. The aisle roofs are also from 1868 and display similar wind bracing. The two-centred chancel arch is comprised of two orders, the inner order resting on corbels carved with stiff leaf foliage. The chancel roof is also braced, with collars, Queen struts, and wind bracing to the purlins.

A monument on the north wall of the chancel commemorates Anne Brunsell, wife of a rector and sister of Sir Christopher Wren. A C15 screen features single light divisions with an open upper stage having cusped, crocketed ogee arches and panel tracery. A recess in the chancel wall contains an inscribed tomb marking Nicholas de Kyngestone, a rector in the late 13th century. A brass plate commemorates Joan Swan, who died in 1497. The C13 font is tapering and octagonal, set upon a central stem with eight subsidiary stems featuring moulded capitals and waterholding bases. Plans, sections, and elevations of St Aubyn’s alterations are held at the Rectory.