Church Of St James

The Church of St James is a building of group value, dating back to the early 12th century, with significant alterations and rebuilding over the centuries. The nave originates from around 1100, the chancel was rebuilt around 1220, and a north chapel was added of a similar date. Further additions include a vestry, organ bay, and a south porch, which were incorporated during a restoration in 1857. The church suffered damage from bombing during the Second World War (1939-1945) and was subsequently restored in 1950 by Frederick Etchells.

The building is constructed of bargate rubble, originally colourwashed and now rendered on the chancel chapel, with ashlar dressings and plain tiled roofs. The porch has a Horsham slab roof, while the bell tower and spire are covered in wood shingles. The church consists of a nave and chancel with a chancel chapel to the north, a vestry, an organ bay, and a porch to the south, and a bellcote to the west end. The bellcote has a broach spire and two-light, louvred openings on each face. The nave incorporates offset buttressing and renewed round-arch lancet windows on the south side, alongside a late 15th century, square-headed window with three trefoil lights on the east. The north side of the nave features lancet fenestration above a flat-roofed vestry addition with leaded windows. The chancel has three lancets on its south side, a round-arched casement window at the end, and a stepped window to the east. The east end of the chapel has three 13th century lancet windows with chamfered rear arches, and three further lancets on the north side, alternating with two offset buttresses and external rebates. A door in the west end of the north wall of the chapel is situated within a Horsham slab pentice porch, featuring jamb shafts with foliate caps and a raised zig-zag order. The south door has a recut surround to ribbed and studded double doors.

Inside, the church is simple in design, with a stone floor, whitewashed walls, and a panelled roof with moulded wall plates. A braced frame at the west end supports the bellcote. A three-bay arcade separates the chancel from the north chapel, featuring round piers and half pier responds. The fittings are primarily 20th century, including an octagonal font on a round centre stem. A monument, dedicated to Alistair Mackenzie (1910) and created by Albert Tolt, is an Art Nouveau style wall tablet. The church forms part of a wider group including stocks and a memorial around the Green.