Clifton: St James
Overview
Grid reference: SP 489 317
Apparently the stone for the church came from the Aynho spa, some two miles away, and this partly no doubt accounts for the 'locally produced' look which the building has - it fits in perfectly to the village scene. Nevertheless it is a humble building. The style is Early English.
Visiting and facilities
Building is closed for worship
Building
Ground Plan Description and Dimensions
Ground plan:
Chancel and nave without structural division; north vestry; south-west porch; a double bellcote at the west.
Description of Archaeology and History
By J.C. and G. Buckler, 1851. The consecratic' was on 10th June, 1853. The builders were Robert Franklin and William Hoperaft of Deddington (both a good deal connected with churches; e.g. Hoperaft, d. 1865, built four local churches and was employed in many restorations). The coat, £800, was largely borne by the then incumbent of Deddington, the Revd. W.C. Risley, who also gave the timber.
Exterior Description
Apparently the stone for the church came from the Aynho spa, some two miles away, and this partly no doubt accounts for the 'locally produced' look which the building has - it fits in perfectly to the village scene. Nevertheless it is a humble building. The style is Early English, i.e. most of the windows are single lancets with one window of two lancets in the south wall of the nave and a chancel east window of three lancets, the centre light being (as is usual) a little taller than those which flank it on either side. The porch has a steep gable and a small gable cross. Over the chancel gable is also a stone cross. At the west is the church's most distinctive feature: the bellcote with two pointed openings for the bells and a steep stone gable above; surmounted by a cross. The eye is led up to the bellcote by two buttresses, each with three set—offs, which extend the whole height of the west wall and enfold a tall lancet window which lights the west end of the nave. On the north side of the church are three single lancet windows for the nave and then a small vestry, quasi-transeptal with yet another steep gable to the north. In the chancel south wall is a single lancet, then a 'priest's door' then another single lancet.
Building Fabric and Features
Stained Glass
Chancel east window. In the centre light the Crucifixion, as is usual, with Christ Rising from the Tomb above and Christ Appearing to Mary Magdalene below; in the left-hand light is Christ Carrying the Cross and Christ in Gethsemane and the right-hand lancet the Flagellation and the Betrayal.
Stained Glass
Chancel north: St. James.
Stained Glass
Two Chancel south: St. Peter and St. John.
Interior
Interior Description
The interior is spacious and simple. The roof, as so often with relatively humble 19th century churches, is one of its best features - and for this, of course, the founder gave the timber. It has big curved braces, coming down to wall-posts supported at a fairly low height on stone corbels which are just below the level of the springing of the window arches; there are tie-beams high up in the crown of the roof. From the inside it can be seen that the windows have wide shallow splays and the two lancets close together on the south side of the nave are within a single splay, as also the three lights of the chancel east window. Above the chancel east window, right in the head of the gable, is a small trefoil light within a triangular-headed splay.
The walls are plastered and whitened, the furnishings plain, serviceable and solid.
Fixtures and fittings
Screen
The chancel is divided from the nave by a low wooden screen with unexpectedly classical-seeming finials (i.e. they appear to take the form of flaming urns) either side of the central opening.
Pulpit
c. 1851-3
The pulpit, pulpit stairs and reading desk south of the central opening are all en suite and, presumably, of 1851-3.
Organ (object)
c. 1900
A pedal and single-manual instrument of eight speaking stops and coupler by Hill and Son, c.1900, and seemingly untouched.
Font (object)
This was carved by Hoperaft, and is of Painswick stone. The bowl and stem are octagonal but what is original is the cutting out of elaborate shapes like the heads of niches at the foot of each flank of the bowl, revealing a scallop shell in high relief behind.
Altar
Mid 19th Century
Vigorous mid-19th century altar table, with chunky legs.
Churchyard
Grid reference: SP 489 317
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 | 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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