Church Of St James

The Church of St James is an Anglican parish church located in Cutsdean, rebuilt in 1863, except for the west tower, which likely dates from the 14th century. The church features a nave and chancel constructed from coursed squared and dressed limestone. The large tower is made of similar limestone blocks and has a concrete tile roof with limestone gable coping.

The plan includes a west tower that serves as a porch on the ground floor, along with the nave and chancel. The tower is buttressed on the north and south sides and has an embattled parapet with a string course below and gargoyles at each corner. It has 2-light belfry windows with blind vesicas on all four sides. The east window is now blocked and partially obscured. A double plank door at the west end is set within a flat-chamfered surround. Above the door, there is a single light with a cinquefoil head, carved spandrels, and diamond-leaded panes.

Inside, the nave has two windows featuring paired lights with pointed heads divided by a central stone mullion. Between the windows on the north wall is a small stone plaque inscribed: "To the Memory / of Izod Payer who died at Jamaica / the 16 Day of June A.D. 1764 / Aged 24 Years." The east end of the chancel and nave has flat gable coping and roll-cross saddles with upright cross finials.

The interior includes a simple flat-chamfered arch from the tower to the nave, with a step up to the chancel and a similar arch above. The nave and chancel have a 19th-century scissor-braced roof, and the floors are laid with red and black tiles. The south windows of the nave and the east window of the chancel contain 19th-century stained glass.

Fittings include a small 17th-century chalice-type octagonal stone font at the west end of the nave, 19th-century pews, a lectern, and a pulpit on a stone base. The church also features a 19th-century communion rail with wrought iron foliate decoration and three 19th-century paraffin lamps suspended from the nave and chancel roof. Additionally, there are four bronze plaques from the 19th to 20th centuries located in the nave.