Church Of St James

ABBOTS BICKINGTON SS 31 SE

2/1 Church of St James 14.2.58

GV II*

Parish church. Circa 1300 restored in 1868. Stone rubble walls. Gable-ended slate roof. Plan: nave and chancel, south transept and west tower - all probably of the same date, north porch may be slightly later. Restored and reseated in 1863. Exterior: low west tower with dwarf pyramidal roof, battlemented without pinnacles. No buttresses or west doorway. Small pointed belfry openings to north and south. 2 windows on south side - one to nave and one to transept - 2 light with simple Decorated tracery. Small C15 East window which has 2 cinquefoiled lights. North and south chancel walls have simple trefoiled lancets of circa 1300 and the nave has a similar C19 window on its north wall. Gabled north porch with chamfered 2- centred arch doorway. Inside: C14 south doorway chamfered with 4-centre arched C17 or C18 panelled door. Chancel wallsare plastered, otherwise the internal walls are rendered. There is no chancel or tower arch and an unmoulded plastered pointed arch to transept. Over the chancel is the old wagon roof with moulded ribs and carved bosses. Otherwise a C19 arch-braced and crown post-roof. The chancel floor has medieval Barnstaple tiles some with fleur-de-lys motif. In south chancel wall is original piscina with trefoiled head. The simple fittings are completely C19. Good wall memorial in north-east corner of chancel to Thomas Pollard who died 1710; nowy headed slate plaque with Corinthian column either side surmounted by scrolled pediment with armorial shield at centre and large figure of kneeling angel to left. Swags of flowers and fruit at base. East windows is made up of fragmented piece of medieval glass depicting various saints and Christ's crucifixion. This is an unspoilt example of a small early church, modest in size but with a number of interesting features and very picturesque appearance. Source: Kelly's Directory 1966

Listing NGR: SS3847613261