Church Of Saint Joseph And Saint James

The Church of Saint Joseph and Saint James is a church of 1848, built as a chapel of ease to Spofforth Church and opened on 22nd October 1848. It was commissioned for Sir Joseph Radcliffe and Rev James Tripp, Rector of Spofforth. The church is constructed of rock-faced gritstone with sandstone dressings, topped with a slate roof. It comprises a three-bay nave with a central south porch and a west bellcote, along with a one-bay chancel and a small vestry on the north side. The architecture is in a compact Gothic style, with a gabled porch featuring a pointed arch and head-stops to the hood-mould, and low side walls with trefoil windows. Lancet windows are present throughout, with one light at the east end and three lights to the west. Diagonal buttresses and ashlar gable copings with shaped kneelers are also notable features. Inside, the church contains a marble reredos with symbols of the Evangelists. Three windows in the chancel were dedicated in 1879-81 to the memory of Sir Joseph Radcliffe, Bart.