Church of St. James, Taunton facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Church of St James
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Location	Taunton
Country	England
Denomination	Church of England
Churchmanship	Low church/evangelical
History
Status	Church
Founded	c. 1169
Dedication	Saint James the Greater
Specifications
Height	111 feet (34 m)
Materials	Red sandstone

The Church of St James is a historic Church of England building in Taunton, Somerset, England. It is dedicated to Saint James the Greater. This church has been an important part of the community for a very long time. It is also a Grade II* listed building, which means it's a special historic place.

A Look at the Church's Past

The Church of St James has a long and interesting history. An even older church stood on this spot way back in the 10th century. That's over 1,000 years ago! The church we see today started to be built in the early 14th century.

Building Through the Centuries

Many parts of the church have been updated over hundreds of years. The special curved roof, called a waggon roof, above the main part of the church (the nave) and the side area (the north aisle) is from the Middle Ages.

Later, in the 1830s, the south side of the church and its entrance porch were rebuilt. The tall west tower, which stands about 111 feet (34 m) high, was added in the 1870s. The chancel, which is the area near the altar, was rebuilt in 1884.

Inside the church, you can find some very old items. The font, used for baptisms, is from the 15th century. The pulpit, where sermons are given, dates back to 1633. You can also see small pieces of beautiful 15th-century stained glass windows. Other stained glass was made in the 1800s by a company called Clayton and Bell.

The iron fences around the churchyard were put up in the early 1800s.

The Church Today

Today, the Church of St James is still an active church. It is part of the Diocese of Bath and Wells. The church is known for its evangelical tradition within the Church of England. This means it focuses on the Bible and sharing the Christian faith.

The church building is located right next to the Somerset County Ground. This is a famous cricket stadium. The church's tower often appears in photos and videos of cricket matches, making it a familiar sight for sports fans.

Gallery

• 

  This picture shows the church from the cricket ground next door.

• 

  A closer look at the top of the church's tower.

See also

• List of towers in Somerset
• List of ecclesiastical parishes in the Diocese of Bath and Wells