Church Of St James

The Church of St James is a church largely of the late 12th century, significantly altered in the mid to late 13th century, with additions of an early 14th century south transept and late 15th/early 16th century north transept. Further alterations occurred in the late 15th/early 16th century, primarily involving refenestration and the addition of a parapet. The building is constructed from coursed and uncoursed limestone rubble, with stone slate chancel and porch roofs and a sheet metal roof. It features a cruciform plan and a north-west tower.

The east gable has early 14th century three-light windows, while the south wall of the chancel features an offset buttress, a 15th century four-centred cavetto-moulded doorway leading to a 19th century plank door, and two 15th century two-light square-headed windows. The north wall of the chancel contains a 16th century vestry and chapel, extending into the nave, with offset buttresses and early 16th century two-light square-headed windows. A 15th century one-light square-headed window is located on the north wall of the nave. The south transept has late 15th/early 16th century two-light square-headed windows and is adjoined by a mid-19th century gabled porch with a pointed chamfered doorway. A stoup is adjacent to a late 12th century round-headed doorway with chamfered jambs, moulded imposts, a billetted arch, an offset buttress, and a 15th century two-light square-headed window to the left. A mid/late 13th century three-light west window is flanked by offset buttresses.

The roofs are gabled, with the nave and chancel featuring 15th century moulded parapets. The north-west tower has offset angle buttresses, a one-light slit window below a string course, 15th century two-light square-headed windows with stone slate louvres, and cavetto moulding to the parapet.

Inside, the chancel displays a mid/late 19th century decorative tile floor and a piscina. Wall brasses commemorate William Hyde, died 1557, his wife and many children, and Oliver Hyde, died 1516, and his wife. There is a 17th century two-bay moulded tie-beam roof and a 15th century chancel arch. The south transept contains a mid/late 13th century arch and five fine decorative wall tablets to the Geering family (dating from 1690 to the 18th century), one to Martha Frogley, died 1792, and a floor tablet to Joan Geering, died 1717. This transept's roof was heavily restored in the 19th century. The north chapel has a 17th century lean-to roof also much restored in the 19th century, a late 19th century screen with linenfold panelling, and a squint to the chancel. The nave includes a Perpendicular style pulpit by A.B. Allin, dated 1889, a late 19th century octagonal font, a 17th century three-bay roof restored in the 19th century, and the aforementioned stoup.