Weight: 921 lbs Diameter: 36.12" Bell 1 of 3
Founded by Robert Oldfield 1605
Dove Bell ID: 6313 Tower ID: 17218 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
Stanstead Abbotts: St James
Overview
Grid reference: TL 399 110
The chunky flint-faced tower, its solid proportions typical of other towers of the area, dominates the church and churchyard. It is in two stages with diagonal buttresses that terminate just below the cill level of the belfry openings. At the south east corner is a polygonal stair-turret, its plain parapet rising above the battlements. The lower stage of the tower contains a square-headed west doorway with quatrefoils in the spandrels and crumbling angel label stops.
Visiting and facilities
Building is closed for worship
Building
Ground Plan Description and Dimensions
Ground plan:
Nave with chancel under continuous roof; west tower with spike; south porch; north chapel.
Description of Archaeology and History
12th century nave; 13th century chancel; 15th century tower and south porch; 1577 north chapel.
Exterior Description
The chunky flint-faced tower, its solid proportions typical of other towers of the area, dominates the church and churchyard. It is in two stages with diagonal buttresses that terminate just below the cill level of the belfry openings. At the south east corner is a polygonal stair-turret, its plain parapet rising above the battlements. The lower stage of the tower contains a square-headed west doorway with quatrefoils in the spandrels and crumbling angel label stops. Just above it is a cinquefoiled three-light window with panel tracery in the head. Above the dividing string course is a small slit window in each of the west and south sides. At belfry level is a two-light, louvred opening each side. Those on the west and south sides are contained beneath arched hood - mouldings and have quatrefoil plate tracery in the head; but those on the north and east faces are without such elaboration. The second stage rises to an embattled parapet, within which is a slim spirelet. The stone quoining of the stair turret and the stone dressings of buttresses and windows contrast attractively with the flint facings. This early 15th century tower is said to have been designed by Robert Stowell, master mason of Westminster Abbey, and it is a fine piece of architecture.
The south side of the church is also flint-faced. The timbered, gabled porch and a single set-off buttress project from the wall; while set into it are four two-light windows with cusped tracery, and a small mediaeval doorway which lies between the two windows of the chancel. The rough-cast north nave wall has neither windows nor doorways and the brick expanses of the north Tudor chapel are broken only by.small apertures. To the west is a small doorway: to the north are two-light windows beneath square dripstones. The largest window of the chapel is in the east wall, where three lights are contained within a four-centred arch. Above it is a foundation stone carved with the date 1577.
The eqst window of the chancel also has three lights, but with cinquefoiled heads. The texture of these two east walls is very different. The wall of the north chapel is smooth, regular, brick-faced; that of the chancel is rough,of flint rubble with some brick and some stone. Round the window, the rubble is of a lighter colour, which perhaps indicates that earlier there was a larger window. Certainly, the one there now is 15th century, and not 13th century when the chancel was built.
Building Fabric and Features
Stained Glass
c. 1575
The two other chapel windows contain fragments of Elizabethan glass. In the east window are the royal arms of Elizabeth I, and the date 1575. In the other north window is a fragment of Baeshe's motto "Boulde in God" and the griffin-like part of his crest.
Stained Glass
The west window is a memorial to William Henry Teale and his wife. (He bought the great bed of Ware in 1869, now in the V. & A.). Faith, Hope and Charity are the subjects, their weak faces emphasised by tbc strong colouring of their robes.
Stained Glass
The east window is in memory of Henry Clere Chaplyn, d. 1865, and is a representation of the Crucifixion, with the Last Supper below.
Stained Glass
The south window of the chancel is an early work of Easton, showing his weather-cock signature.
Stained Glass
One of the windows of the nave has stained glass in memory of Maria Webb, Teale's daughter who died in 1922. Of St. James and St. John, it is signed by Jones and Willis of London.
Stained Glass
In the north chapel, there is a window containing St. Ann and St. Simeon.
Interior
Interior Description
Inside, the church is light and airy, its uneven rubble walls and ceiling being plastered and whitewashed. The 15th century king-post tie-beams stand out prominently, above the white walls and below the plastered ceiling which has no braces, purlins or rafters showing. The dark wood of the tall Georgian nave box pews and of the pulpit also looks well in the setting of white walls and ceiling.
A centre aisle of stone slabs leads straight through into the chancel, which has no transitional arch to mark its separation from the nave. The arcade that divides the north chapel from the chancel has four bays. The easternmost arch has just one chamfered order, and is probably of later date than the other original 16th century arches. The two-centred arches, with one double, ogee moulded order, rest ca octagonal columns, heavily plastered, and probably concealing brick underneath.
At the west end of the nave, the lofty 15th-century tower arch, with its moulded orders and shafted jambs and capitals, elegantly frames the wooden screen and the recessed three-light window. In front of it, and opposite the mediaeval south doorway, is the stone font with its wooden cover.
Fixtures and fittings
Altar
Late 17th Century
The altar is a small, late 17th century wooden table. It has spiral turned legs with straight tying stretchers.
Rail
The communion rails are of wood and are plain.
Piscina (object)
A plain, double, stone piscina set low into the south wall of the south sanctuary.
Pulpit
The pulpit, on the south side of the nave and flanked by pews, is a three-decker Elizabethan structure in fine condition. It retains the carved back support for the tester that has been removed.
Pew (object)
The pews of the nave are high-boxed Georgian.
Screen
The tower screen at the west end is a good solid piece of panelled wood. It would seem that the tester of the pulpit has been incorporated into the central panel of the screen.
Font (object)
13th Century
The shallow basin is 13th century, probably the base is also. The octagonal stem is perhaps 15th century.
Organ (object)
The organ was made by Bevington & Sons and repaired by Bunting of Epping in 1964, and is now in good working order. It has one manual and six stops. Although so small its case stands tall: the three gabled openings of the front terminate in stiff and formalized finials; and the shallow buttresses between them terminate in small pinnacles with miniature versions of the gable finials.
Bells
Weight: 560 lbs Diameter: 30.75" Bell 2 of 3
Founded by John Briant 1790
Dove Bell ID: 40291 Tower ID: 17218 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
Weight: 728 lbs Diameter: 32.5" Bell 3 of 3
Founded by Robert Oldfield 1617
Dove Bell ID: 40292 Tower ID: 17218 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
Churchyard
Grid reference: TL 399 110
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
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 | N/A |
| Solar Thermal Panels | N/A |
| Biomass | N/A |
| Wind Turbine | N/A |
| Air Source Heat Pump | N/A |
| Ground Source Heat Pump | N/A |
| Ev Charging | N/A |
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
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