| Summary : The Church of St James was founded as a cell of the Benedictine Abbey of Tewkesbury by Robert, 1st Earl of Gloucester, in 1129. It is constructed of red stone rubble and limestone dressings and ashlar. The west elevation is carved into an interlaced arcade with every third arch omitted, the spaces filled with three rounded arched windows. Also on this elevation is an early example of a rose, or wheel, window thought to date from around 1160.The nave of the building became a parish church in 1374 on the condition that a new tower was built. As well as adding a tower with small spirelet, a south aisle was constructed. Although the aisle and tower have had later alterations, a print of 1630 does show them in a comparable state to present. Both the aisle and tower have timber corbel heads within of later 15th century date. The porch of the church dates to the late 17th century, and work subsequent to this was conducted in the 19th century.The south porch and upper vestry rooms were added by James Foster in 1802-1803, which was followed by a restoration programme conducted by S. C. Fripp in 1846. The north aisle was constructed under Popes and Bindon in 1864 with Aberdeen granite peers and the stained glass was worked by Joseph Bell and Son of Bristol in 1907.The building fell into disuse in the 1980s, but was converted into a Roman Catholic Church in 1996 by the Little Brothers of Nazareth. |
More information : The Church of St James was founded as a cell of the Benedictine Abbey of Tewkesbury by Robert, 1st Earl of Gloucester, in 1129. It is constructed of red stone rubble and limestone dressings and ashlar. The west elevation is carved into an interlaced arcade with every third arch omitted, the spaces filled with three rounded arched windows. Also on this elevation is an early example of a rose, or wheel, window thought to date to around 1160. It is currently suffering from fairly severe erosion.
The nave of the building became a parish church in 1374 on the condition that a new tower was built. As well as adding a tower with small spirelet, a south aisle was constructed. Although the aisle and tower have had later alterations, a print of 1630 does show them in a comparable state to present. Both the aisle and tower have timber corbel heads within of later 15th century date. The porch of the church dates to the late 17th century, and work subsequent to this was conducted in the 19th century.
The south porch and upper vestry rooms were added by James Foster in 1802-1803, which was followed by a restoration programme conducted by S. C. Fripp in 1846. The north aisle was constructed under Popes and Bindon in 1864 with Aberdeen granite peers and the stained glass was worked by Joseph Bell and Son of Bristol in 1907.
Fittings within the building date from the mid 19th century onwards. The font, although Norman in design, is actually mid 19th century and probably by Popes and Bindon. The altar consists of three Portland stone slabs and dates from the late 20th century. The earliest monument in the church reputedly depicts the founder, Robert, 1st Earl of Gloucester, and dates to the early 13th century. Subsequent to this, most monuments held within the building date to the 18th century onwards, with two from the late 17th century.
The building fell into disuse in the 1980s, but was converted into a Roman Catholic Church in 1996 by the Little Brothers of Nazareth. (6)
Tree-ring dating of timbers from the nave and chancel roofs produced felling dates of AD 1327-52 for the chancel and AD 1411-36 for the nave. The earlier date makes the chancel roof the earliest dated wagon roof in the south-west. (7) |