Church Of St James

The Church of St James is a parish church largely dating to the 12th century, with significant alterations from the 15th and 16th centuries. A major restoration and enlargement was undertaken between 1894 and 1895 by S. Gambier-Parry. The church is constructed of ashlar limestone with a stone slate roof. It comprises a nave with north and south aisles, a north porch, a west tower, and a chancel with a north vestry.

Late 19th-century additions include a gabled parapet to the north porch, which incorporates a Norman voussoir reused as the keystone of the doorway. The north doorway is in Perpendicular style, and the round archway has a cinquefoil image niche with a crocketed hood. A three-light aisle window is present; the window to the west end is a two-light window that was formerly the east window of an earlier 19th-century restoration. The south aisle has a longer gabled parapet, extending eastward over the chancel wall. It contains two two-light windows; one, from the early 16th century, features Tudor lights. A restored and reset 13th-century lancet is situated in the west gable end. The chancel was rebuilt in the late 19th century in Perpendicular style, with a three-light east window, featuring a carved Crucifixion scene in a panel below.

The west tower is late 15th century, with diagonal offset buttresses and a two-light west window with a carved hoodmould. Carved depictions of sheep shears above the north-west buttress may indicate a gift from a local wool merchant. Trefoil-headed belfry openings with stone louvres are present, and a string course below the crenellated parapet has gargoyles at each corner.

Inside, a late 15th-century south arcade features octagonal piers, with north aisle piers copied during the late 19th century. A small raised rood loft doorway adjoins the round chancel arch. The original wagon roof remains in the south aisle. A 15th or early 16th century rood beam, originally with a vine trail carving and traceried timber screen, now has early 20th-century figures added. A three-bay 19th-century chancel roof with cusped trusses is also present. The east window has two trefoil-headed jamb niches, each containing a carved figure. A painted triptych reredos is located here. A delicately carved pulpit front corresponds with the altar frontal, both dating to the late 19th century. An octagonal 19th-century stone font stands on a tall fluted base. A fine Baroque monument, featuring a segmental pediment surmounted by a crest and torch-bearing putti, is located in the south aisle, commemorating Obadiah Done, Rector, who died in 1738. Several 18th-century monuments are found within the tower. Notable stained glass includes a window by Wailes of Newcastle.