Nominal: 1329.5 Hz Weight: 607 lbs Diameter: 24" Bell 1 of 2
Founded by Thomas II Mears 1841
Dove Bell ID: 52417 Tower ID: 19200 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Turnings: unturned Cracked: No
St James Clapton
Diocese of London
Church, 623088
https://www.stjamesclapton.co.ukThis church is on the Heritage at Risk Register (verified 2024-11-14)
View more information about this church on the Heritage at Risk website
Overview
Grid reference: TQ 348 860
The church of St. James, with its solid brick walls, is an unprepossessing building. Constructed with some Early English features particularly the windows, the only striking part is the curious polygonal turret.
Visiting and facilities
Building is open for worship
Building
Ground Plan Description and Dimensions
Ground plan:
Nave with transepts (but no central tower); chancel with side arcades, the organ being over the north one and extending into a chamber; polygonal turret in the south-eastangle of the south transept.
Footprint of Church buildings: 772 m²
Description of Archaeology and History
1840-1 by E.C. Hakewill. The chancel was added in the early 20th century by W.D. Caroe.
Exterior Description
The church of St. James, with its solid brick walls, is an unprepossessing building. Constructed with some Early English features particularly the windows, the only striking part is the curious polygonal turret. It is of three stages, nestling into the south-east angle between chancel and south transept. The lowest stage is fairly plain, but the middle one is more ornate. Above the odd slit window are lancet-headed arches of stone extending right round the turret in blind arcading, with globular trefoils as the label stops of the linking hood moulding. The belfry stage has eight lancet openings, all linked by hood moulding. Below the corbel table at the top of this stage is an inscription. The construction is completed by a short stone spire with a curly stone cross.
The west end is a simple design of two lancets and a round window above the dividing string course. The border design is of the edges of a star combined with a quatrefoil, leaving the centre without any tracery. The east end has three pointed arched windows. The middle one is taller and it has a brick pilaster mullion terminating in a gable each side at a higher level than the window. There are gabled angle buttresses at the corners. The nave and transepts contain lancet windows beneath stone hood moulding.
Building Fabric and Features
Stained Glass
The east window is by Burlison and Grylls, with a central light of Christ in a red robe, and flanked by St. James and St. John.
Stained Glass
1920s
In the south arcade are two pairs of lights. At the east end are Saints Anna and Simeon. On the south side are the Sower and the Light of the World. They probably came from the same workshop as the main east window.
Stained Glass
The round window at the west end and the north and south lancet windows of the transept contain patterned stained glass.
Interior
Interior Description
The nave is wide with a curiously timbered roof. It is primarily tie-beam in construction, but instead of extending up to a gable point, the middle of the ceiling has been lowered and is thus flat, ending at the collar. From the and of the tie beams where they have been strengthened are curious drop knobs. The timbers are white painted and the ceiling blue. All the walls are also white painted. This impression is not alleviated by the stiffly carved stone reredos with arcading, now at the west end of the church. The heavy carving of the gabled and crocketted reredos arch, and of the arcading with black colonettes, is an example of the sculpture and design of the period.
The transepts are divided from the nave by two equilatral arches each side, resting on a thin shafted column, turned and with a slightly ornamented capital. In the spandrel over the column is a vesica shape, cusped at each side. A wooden screen divides the nave from the chancel. Above the altar and screen is the double chancel arch, a pointed arch within a squared-off four centred arch. The outer arch lines extend over the side arcades and rest on columnar wall posts with capitals. The wall posts in turn, rest on ornate floriated corbels. Over the north arcade is the organ that extends back into an organ chamber. The south arcade is open and has a narrow walk behind it.
Fixtures and fittings
Altar
c. 1910
The high altar has riddells round it in the "English" manner of about 1910.
Reredos
The reredos containing a crucifixion is gilded and painted
Rail
The communion rails and choir stalls are of plain wood and match the screen.
Pulpit
The Pulpit is wooden and on a stone plinth - of the same wood as the screen.
Lectern
Brass eagle.
Font (object)
The font in the north transept is white painted plaster and stone.
Organ (object)
Large 3 manual and 38 speaking instrument. It is by R. Spurden Rutt & Co. of Layton, London, with a case designed by W.D. Caroe.
Organ (object)
A small chamber organ.
Bells
Nominal: 1593.5 Hz Weight: 228 lbs Diameter: 18" Bell 2 of 2
Founded by Thomas II Mears 1841
Dove Bell ID: 52418 Tower ID: 19200 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Turnings: unturned Cracked: No
Churchyard
Grid reference: TQ 348 860
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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