East Hanney: St James the Less
Overview
Grid reference: SU 418 929
By G.E. Street, the foundation stone laid on 31st July, 1857 and the church consecrated on 22nd April 1858. Street (1824-1881) was Diocesan Architect for Oxford, and had his office at Wantage, so that he must have passed this village many times. The cost of the church was apparently not to exceed £450, and the style is suitably restrained. The north vestry was added in 1912.
Visiting and facilities
Building is closed for worship
Building
Ground Plan Description and Dimensions
Ground plan:
Nave with south-west porch; chancel with north vestry.
Dimensions:
The nave is 49ft by 19ft, the chancel 17ft by 16ft 6ins.
Description of Archaeology and History
By G.E. Street, the foundation stone laid on 31st July, 1857 and the church consecrated on 22nd April 1858. Street (1824-1881) was Diocesan Architect for Oxford, and had his office at Wantage, so that he must have passed this village many times. The cost of the church was apparently not to exceed £450, and the style is suitably restrained. The north vestry was added in 1912.
Exterior Description
Until the north vestry with its cross-gabled roof was built in 1912, this church (in spite of having a narrower chancel, a south porch and a bell-cote in the west gable) was all under one roof. The chancel is of the same height as the nave, the bell hangs in a little niche below the west end of the nave ridge, and the south porch has a sloping roof which continues the pitch of the nave roof.
The style is thirteenth-century, and all the windows are groups of lancets with trefoiled heads. They are placed as needed rather than to conform to a symmetrical pattern. The south nave wall has two groups of three, of equal height. The north nave wall has two groups of two, and the west wall likewise has a pair, but larger than the others. The chancel has a group of three as the east window and a single light on the south side. The later vestry copies the east chancel wall in its triple north window.
The exterior is otherwise featureless, save for a single butt ress (the only one in the design) to support the chancel arch at the south-east corner of the nave.
Interior
Interior Description
The interior is as plain as the exterior, but the two cells are divided by a chancel arch of which there had been no indication outside. This is amply chamfered (there is no carved decoration any where in the church). The plastered walls are pale fawn, and the glass in the windows together with the colour of the woodwork all continue this colour. The nave floor is of tiles, the west end lower by one step at the door and the font (which stands under the west window). An in appropriately classical chamber organ occupies the north-west corner of the nave.
The far spacing of the north windows is explained by the position of one by the pulpit and one by the organ which seems to occupy space used as a vestry until 1912; the lighting for the rest of the nave proceeds from the more ample south windows. The roof is of six bays, all of unequal widths.
The chancel is crossed by a screen in front of which stand a later pulpit and lectern; the screen has cusped arched similar to those of the Perpendicular screen at neighbouring West Hanney. The big trefoiled panels in the lower part do not bear any relation to the proportions of the open arcading above. It seems that the lower part is by Street and that the upper part and the rood above were added in 1912.
Fixtures and fittings
Altar
The altar table is plain but serviceable, all the corners being chamfered.
Altar Cross
1912
Rail
The Communion Rails have attractive twisted supports in cast-iron with maple leaves at the ends of the brackets.
Pulpit
1912
Of pine.
Lectern
1912
Of oak.
Font (object)
The Font probably by Street, is supported by a big base and capital without a shaft between. Although square, it stands on a round step; the octagonal cover does not belong.
Organ (object)
The Organ is a chamber instrument with a case of red mahogany. The stops are Pedal Coupler, Open Diapason 8', Dulciana 8', Gamba 8', Pedal Bourdon 16'.
Churchyard
Grid reference: SU 418 929
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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