Diameter: 20" Bell 1 of 1
Founded by James Barwell 1874
Dove Bell ID: 62598 Tower ID: 24946 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
Woodhall: St James the Great
Overview
Grid reference: SE 204 340
Built 1959 by Bradford architects Barker and Jordan. One of four built as part of an initiative by Bishop Coggan to provide new housing estates with an Anglican place of worship. It has been little altered since, with a complete interior.
Visiting and facilities
Building is open for worship
Building
Ground Plan Description and Dimensions
Ground plan:
5-bay nave with chancel, north vestries. 4-bay south aisle. Bell tower and linked lobby and hall to south-west. Detached vicarage to south-west.
Dimensions:
[Approximate] Nave 30m (100ft) x 12m (40ft), chancel 10m (33ft) long
Description of Archaeology and History
St James was built in 1959 by Bradford architects Barker and Jordan. It is the third church of that name in the area, but each was on a different site. Its predecessor built in 1915 was a simple stone building with attached school hall by Austin & Paley, with some decorative timber framing typical of the period. The first church had been a tin tabernacle brought here from Leeds in 1885. In 1964 a mural was painted on the west wall of the south aisle, by C D Wildman. The vicarage was built around the same time and the hall was added in 1972.
The new church was one of four churches built during Bishop Donald Coggan’s initiative to provide churches for new housing estates.
Exterior Description
The church is very typical of the end of the Festival of Britain period, with its “wave” roofline and separate bell tower, very reminiscent of Sir Basil Spence’s designs in many decorative features, with several nods to Coventry Cathedral including the stained glass.
The tower is the dominating architectural feature, tall and square in section with a large belfry opening under the flat roof, with cross finial. The church itself has copper-clad roofs over the nave and slightly lower chancel, which has a large cross set centrally on the blind east wall. The south chapel and entrance vestibule have flat roofs. The nave and aisle windows are set in gabled metal frames, the nave having small square upper windows in the clearstorey. Cross gables to the south aisle windows and arcade. The south wall of the chancel and the west facade have very large rectangular windows (both affected by corrosion to the very tall mullions) almost from ground to ceiling, the effect of all this fenestration is to create a light and airy interior.
Building Fabric and Features
Nave
20th century 5-bay
Chancel
20th century
Vestry
20th century north
Aisle
20th century 4-bay south aisle
Bell Tower (component)
20th century linked to lobby and church hall
Church Hall
20th century south west
Vicarage
20th century detached to the south west
Building Materials
Brick
20th century yellow-orange brick in Monk bond
Steel
20th century frame
Concrete
20th century dressings
Copper
20th century roofs
Interior
Interior Description
Internally the church fittings mostly date to 1959-61, and the benches of light pine have the simple angular lines typical of this period (not fixed), with shaped ends identical to those at Buttershaw. There are reading desks with panelled fronts along the west wall, with overhead canopies. The interior is painted in light pastel green, not the original colour which was “royal blue”. Latticed barrel-vault wooden ceiling, seen in several churches of this period. Chequered black-and-white floor tiles. There are suspended globe lamps (not original) illuminating this simple, clean interior. The church is well maintained and obviously cared for.
A thin arched timber with rood cross spans the chancel arch. There are one step up from the nave to the chancel and one more to the sanctuary. Inset into the north wall of the sanctuary are an aumbry and piscina. Good oak choir stalls with chequerboard panelling. There is also a Lady Altar in the south chapel at the end of the aisle. At the west end of the aisle where the font stands is a mural of Christ being baptised.
The hall provides a useful space, but looks a little tired. There are also useful smaller ancillary rooms, and the usual facilities, kitchen, toilets etc.
Fixtures and fittings
Altar
20th century high altar has a plain wooden table, similar to Lady Chapel altar
Reredos
20th century Suspended Crucifix before dossal curtain behind the High Altar, this hanging from a facetted canopy. Small mural of Holy Family in the Lady Chapel.
Pulpit
20th century oak, very simple with panelled front with chequerboard pattern also found in the lectern and choir stalls
Lectern
20th century of oak
Rail
20th century plain wooden communion rails
Font (component)
20th century Portland stone pedestal font with a domed steel font cover surmounted by a descending brass dove.
Stained Glass (window)
20th century abstract designs of brightly coloured panels in the south chapel (1959) by W J Kendall & Co of Pudsey, similar with small image of St James in west window and a small loose pane with St James from previous church
Plaque (component)
20th century several small brass plaques
Organ (component)
21st century electronic 2002 KAG
Bells
Portable Furnishings and Artworks
includes registers from old church since 1915
Churchyard
Grid reference: SE 204 340
Burial and War Grave Information
It is unknown whether the building is consecrated.
It is unknown whether the churchyard has been used for burial.
It is unknown whether the churchyard is used for burial.
It is unknown whether the churchyard has war graves.
National Heritage record for England designations
There are no records of National Heritage assets within the curtilage of this site.
Environment
Ancient, Veteran & Notable Trees
Caring for God's Acre is a conservation charity working to support groups and individuals to investigate, care for, and enjoy the wildlife and heritage treasures found within churchyards and other burial grounds. Look on their website for information and advice and please contact their staff directly. They can help you manage this churchyard for people and wildlife.
To learn more about all the species recorded against this church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas. You can check the spread of records through the years, discovering what has been recorded and when, plus what discoveries might remain to be uncovered.
There are no records of Ancient, Veteran or Notable Trees within the curtilage of this site.
Renewables
| Renewable | Installed |
|---|---|
| Solar PV Panels | No |
| Solar Thermal Panels | No |
| Biomass | No |
| Wind Turbine | No |
| Air Source Heat Pump | No |
| Ground Source Heat Pump | No |
| Ev Charging | No |
Species summary
There are no records of species within the curtilage of this site.
Caring for God's Acre is a conservation charity working to support groups and individuals to investigate, care for, and enjoy the wildlife and heritage treasures found within churchyards and other burial grounds. Look on their website for information and advice and please contact their staff directly. They can help you manage this churchyard for people and wildlife.
To learn more about all the species recorded against this church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas. You can check the spread of records through the years, discovering what has been recorded and when, plus what discoveries might remain to be uncovered.
'Seek advice' Species
More information on species and action to be taken upon discovery.
Caring for God's Acre is a conservation charity working to support groups and individuals to investigate, care for, and enjoy the wildlife and heritage treasures found within churchyards and other burial grounds. Look on their website for information and advice and please contact their staff directly. They can help you manage this churchyard for people and wildlife.
To learn more about all the species recorded against this church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas. You can check the spread of records through the years, discovering what has been recorded and when, plus what discoveries might remain to be uncovered.
Further information
Sources
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