Church Of St James

The Church of St James is a Grade II listed building that began construction in 1864, designed by Wigginton for the nave and chancel, and completed with the tower by Romaine Walker and Tanner in 1888. It is built from yellow stock brick with red brick and stone dressing, topped with a slate roof, and is designed in the Gothic Revival style. The church features a nave with aisles and a tower at the west end.

In 1873, the church was enlarged with the addition of a north aisle consisting of six bays, which have transverse gables that pierce the roof of the nave. The chancel was also enlarged and furnished between 1876 and 1877 according to Wigginton's plans, with the east window moved to the west end and a new window by Bailey inserted. The south aisle and porch were completed in 1879. The tower, built between 1887 and 1888 to celebrate Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee, has three stages, a battlemented parapet, pinnacles, and corner buttresses. It features a tall stone spire with brick banding and a clock by Smith and Derby added in 1893.

Inside, the nave is separated from the aisles by six-bay arcades with pointed arches resting on simple round piers, each with uniquely carved capitals. The open timber roof enhances the interior space. The pointed chancel arch is adorned with red and black brick banding and a decorative inscription that reads, "O come let us worship and fall down and kneel before the Lord our Maker." The chancel boasts an elaborate timber roof with pairs of arched braces and a triple lancet window divided by columns with carved capitals.

The choir stalls feature carved ends and pierced fronts, and there are carved angel heads on corbels supporting the roof braces. The altar rail is made of alabaster and marble colonnettes, and the decorative floor scheme of Minton tiles continues behind the altar. A carved stone reredos depicts angels, fruit, birds, wheat, and bread. The pulpit is hexagonal, made of alabaster and stone, while the east window, created in 1876 by Bailey of London, is complemented by Edwardian stained glass in the rest of the church. Four mosaic panels depict saints, and there is a brass eagle lectern from 1882. The baptistry features a brick vaulted ceiling with stone ribs, a triple light window, and two-light windows on either side, along with an octagonal stone font with carved panels and marble colonnettes from 1865.