Church Of St. James

CLAPTON-ON-THE-HILL CLAPTON VILLAGE SP 11 NE 2/27 Church of St. James 25.8.60 GV II*

Anglican parish church. Late C12, Transitional C13, restored late C17, restoration and addition of vestry C20. Limestone rubble, stone slate roof. Slate hung bell turret. Nave with projecting south porch, vestry added 1912 on north, chancel. Chancel south wall; C17 two-light double-chamfered stone-mullioned casement with scroll-moulded stopped hood to right of porch, lancet left of porch. Small lancet at west end. Chancel north wall; rectangular window with flat-chamfered surround. Two-light double-chamfered stone-mullioned casement left of vestry. Vestry with 2-light stone-mullioned casement in gable end. Two-light double-chamfered stone-mullioned casement with stopped hood. Gabled porch; double wooden gates within pointed-arched entrance, inner order tapers in at shoulder height. Square bell turret with wooden louvres and pyramidal roof and weathercock. Unusually wide coping at gable ends of nave and at gable end of chancel. Roll-cross saddles with C17 finial crosses. Church interior; 3-bay nave. Pointed chancel arch with C12 flat- chamfered abaci. Three-bay nave with probably late C17 collar and tie trusses, similar trusses to two bay chancel. Stone flag floor. Latin inscription of c1289 in Lombardic script on left-hand abacus, translation; 'Whoever shall say three times devoutly a Pater and an Ave on his knees and in person - lo! There is a reward then and there of a thousand days'. Remains of possibly C17 painted black letter texts either side of chancel arch. Aumbry right of altar. Transitional tub font; chamfered at a later date to fit an octagonal shaft, at west end of chancel. Monuments; four late C18-C19 ledgers to members of the Wise family at west end of nave. Three late C17-early C18 ledgers to members of the Woodman family in chancel aisle. (David Verey, The Buildings of England; The Cotswolds, 1979; and V.C.H, Vol II, p 59)

Listing NGR: SP1628217969