Parish Church Of St James

The Parish Church of St James is a late 12th-century church located in Little Paxton. The chancel remains largely intact, featuring early window openings in the east and south walls, along with two nearly complete doorways, one of which was reset in the early 16th-century south aisle wall. The north wall of the nave is believed to have been demolished in the mid-17th century and was rebuilt in 1849 during a complete restoration of the church. Some 12th-century carved stones are incorporated into the lower courses of the north wall. The west tower, dating from around 1400, features three stages, a chamfered plinth, and an embattled parapet adorned with grotesque gargoyles. The belfry window has been converted to two plain lights with a wooden lintel. The south aisle includes three modern two-light windows. A 12th-century door, which has been reset, displays a finely carved tympanum depicting the Good Shepherd, a large cross enclosed in a circle, and a wolf and a lamb. The chancel contains two windows from the 14th and 15th centuries, as well as a 'low-side' window from the 15th century located to the west of the 12th-century chancel doorway, supported by shouldered corbels.

Inside, there is a partly restored 12th-century chancel arch with a plain square order, and responds each featuring one attached shaft. The tower arch is made of clunch and has a two-centred shape with two moulded orders and semi-octagonal responds with moulded capitals. The 16th-century arcade was reconstructed in 1849 and consists of four bays with segmental-pointed arches on octagonal piers with moulded capitals and chamfered bases. The font, dating from the 13th century, has a plain octagonal bowl on a central chamfered shaft, accompanied by three small octagonal shafts. The font cover, made of painted oak, is from the 17th century. There is also a monument to Robert Throckmorton, dated 1698-9.