Church Of St James

Church of St James, Bondleigh

This is a parish church of 12th-century origin, substantially rebuilt in the 15th century with a 16th-century addition, and restored in 1890. It is constructed of local stone slate and sandstone rubble walls with some granite ashlar to the tower. The roofs are gable-ended with slate tiles and 19th-century decorative ridge tiles and coping stones.

The church comprises a nave, chancel, north aisle, west tower, and south porch. The earliest element is a Norman south doorway, and the nave may incorporate some Norman fabric. The chancel was probably rebuilt or remodelled in the 15th century when the Easter sepulchre was constructed on the north side. The tower and south porch are also likely 15th-century. The north aisle is considerably later and might even date from after the Reformation.

The exterior features a three-stage crenellated west tower with tapering pinnacles topped by ball finials and set-back buttresses. The belfry has two-light segmental-headed openings. The west doorway has a four-centred arch in granite with roll and hollow moulding and an arched hoodmould. The three-light Perpendicular west window has had its tracery renewed.

The north aisle has four tall mullioned and cross-transomed windows of three lights with segmental heads and square hoodmoulds, some of which have been renewed. At the east end of the aisle is a late 19th-century Perpendicular-style window. The chancel's east window is similar but more elaborate. On its south side are two late 19th-century single-light transomed windows and a narrow two-centred arched priest's door between them, which has also been restored. The nave's south side has a similar single-light window to the chancel and a restored Perpendicular-style window of two lights with a cross transom. The single-storey south porch has a two-centred arched doorway with a restored head. Above it is a slate sundial dated 1706.

The interior, which is less restored than the exterior, contains numerous notable features. The porch preserves its original wagon roof with a moulded collar purlin supported on a re-used Norman carved stone ram's head. The original 12th-century south doorway in sandstone features a circular arch decorated with interlaced arcading enclosing a tympanum depicting the Lamb of God flanked by a dove on either side, with decorative carving to the imposts and plain stone jambs.

The nave has a three-bay granite arcade of Pevsner A-type piers and four-centred moulded arches. Built into the east wall of the aisle are two Norman capitals with ornate carving. The chancel contains a notable Easter Sepulchre on the north wall, depicting a recumbent priest with a cusped arch and Perpendicular blind arcading above, and carved quatrefoils below. The identity of the priest is uncertain. On either side of the east window are contemporary mutilated canopied image niches. A cinquefoil-headed piscina is located in the south wall.

The Norman font has a square bowl with variously ornamented sides, standing on a central stem with four outer columns. The original wagon roofs survive with moulded purlins and carved bosses, those in the aisle being larger and more elaborate, with running foliage carved wall-plates. The chancel roof has been renewed. Several 16th-century bench ends with unusual and varying designs remain. Fragments of old glass are preserved in the top lights of the south chancel windows and the easterly nave window.

The interior also contains a good 18th-century wall memorial in the aisle to members of the Marshall family, featuring columns and a pediment, and a simpler slate memorial slab of the early 18th century to Mary Guss and her daughter.