Church of St James, Cameley facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Church of St James |
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| Location | Cameley, Somerset, England |
| Built | 12th century |
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Listed Building – Grade I
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| Designated | 21 September 1960 |
| Reference no. | 1320783 |
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The Church of St James is a very old church located in Cameley, Somerset, England. It was built way back in the late 1100s! Today, it's looked after by the Churches Conservation Trust. This means it's a special historic building that is no longer used for regular church services, but it's kept safe so people can still visit and learn about its past. It's dedicated to St. James of Compostela, a famous saint.
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Discovering St James Church
This ancient church is a "Grade I listed building." This is a special title given to buildings that are very important to England's history. The Church of St James became a protected building in 1960. It stopped being used for regular services in 1980 and was officially taken care of by the Trust in 1981.
Amazing Wall Paintings
Inside the church, you can find pieces of old wall paintings. These paintings are on the north and south walls of the main part of the church, called the nave. They were created between the 1100s and the 1600s.
One of the oldest paintings shows a jester or a trickster on the north wall. This figure has a special lip and a forked tongue, and he's holding a scroll.
Royal and Knightly Connections
Near the front of the church, on the north side of the arch leading to the altar, there's a painting of three lions. These are the same three lions you see on the Royal Arms of England, which is like the royal symbol of the country. This painting suggests that kings or queens might have supported the church long ago.
On the south side of the same arch, there's a painting of a coat of arms with two red V-shapes. This symbol is thought to belong to the St Maur family. A member of this family, Almeric de St Maur, was a leader of the Knights Templar in England. The Knights Templar were a famous group of medieval knights. Almeric de St Maur also signed the Magna Carta, a very important document from 1215 that helped create rules for kings. These symbols show a link between this church and the Knights Templar.
The Ten Commandments Painting
Above the arch leading to the altar, there's a beautiful painting from the early 1600s. It shows the Ten Commandments, which are important rules in Christianity. This painting is surrounded by twining leaves and little cherub faces. For many years, this painting was hidden behind white paint. It was only uncovered in the 1960s! Because it was hidden for so long, a writer named John Betjeman called it "Rip Van Winkle's Church." Rip Van Winkle is a character from a story who slept for many years.
Galleries and Memorials
The church has two special raised areas called galleries. The west gallery was built in 1711. It has decorative railings called balusters that look like an older style from the time of King James I. It also has a coat of arms from the time of Charles I of England. The south gallery was added later, in 1819.
On the north wall of the main church area, you'll find two monuments from the early 1800s dedicated to the Rees-Mogg family. There's also a special brass plaque that remembers the nine people from the village who died in World War I. The church is surrounded by many trees, making it a peaceful place.
The Church Tower
The church's tower was probably built in the 1400s, but it was repaired in the 1800s. It's made of red stone from the Mendip Hills, which looks different from the blue stone used for the rest of the church. Inside the tower, there's a bell that was made in 1779 by a famous bell-making family called the Bilbie family.
Churchyard Monuments
Around the church, in the churchyard, there are several old monuments. Some of these are also listed as "Grade II," meaning they are important historical structures too.
See also
- List of Grade I listed buildings in Bath and North East Somerset
- List of towers in Somerset
- List of churches preserved by the Churches Conservation Trust in South West England
- List of ecclesiastical parishes in the Diocese of Bath and Wells
