Church Of St James

TL 90 SE DENGIE ASHELDHAM ROAD

5/88 Church of St. James 30.12.59 GV II

Parish church. Nave and Chancel appear to have been rebuilt C14. Nave walls may be of earlier date. C19 south porch, north vestry and bellcote. Septaria, flint rubble, Roman brick and C14 yellow brick. Red plain tiled roofs. East wall, angle buttresses. C19 east window with C14 rear splays and re-set rear arch, of 3 cusped lights with 3 quatrefoils over, 2 centre arched head label with head stops. Chancel, C19 with some C14 material north and south single light windows, scissor tracery 2 centre arched heads, labels with head stops. C19 moulded 2 centre arched south doorway, label and head stops, to west of which is a small low set single light window with segmental head, label and head stops, splays and rear arch probably C14. Nave, south wall buttressed at angles. Two 2 light windows with pointed quatrefoils, 2 centre arched heads, labels and head stops, 2 similar windows to north wall, all much restored C14 as is the now blocked north doorway with similar arch and plain label. C19 south doorway. Gabled porch with angle buttresses and moulded pointed segmental arched doorway, sidelights of 3 ogee lights, segmental head, label and head stops. West wall restored C14 window of 3 ogee lights with tracery over, ogee head, label and head stops. Small, blocked C14 doorway with hollow chamfered jambs and 2 centre arched head. To gable apex a C19 stone bellcote, the chamfered base of 3 carved face corbels - 2 lions and a man, supporting 2 ogee arches, surmounted by 2 chamfered 2 centre arches with quatrefoil over, breaking through the pedimental head, bell to each arch. Ornate iron cross finial over. Interior. Chancel. C19 scissor braced roof. Head stops to north and south windows. South door head stops to 2 centre arched head. The circa 1880 ornately carved stone reredos designed and executed by Rev. E Warmington M.A., incorporates piscina and sedilia to north and south walls, the sedilia canopied, crocketed and pinnacled, with carved bases, crocketed and pinnacled piscina on carved bases. The 3 central reredos panels with gabled heads and illuminated panels painted by Miss Warmington, trefoiled side panels. C19 twisted iron altar rails. 2 centre arch with moulded label and head stops to north vestry. No Chancel arch. Nave. C19 7 cant roof. C19 octagonal pulpit with traceried panels, octagonal stem. Poppy heads to pews. Polygonal brick floor. Floor slab with indents for brasses which are now framed on a wall board of 5 kneeling boys, 2 kneeling girls, a woman with head-dress and dress girdle with 3 large buckles, said to be circa 1520. Font. Octagonal with chamfered rim and soffit, circular stem with moulded base and head. RCHM 1.

Listing NGR: TL9893001614