Church of St James, Chipping Campden facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Church of St James |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Lua error in Module:Location_map at line 420: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). | |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Architecture | |
| Heritage designation | Grade I listed building |
| Specifications | |
| Tower height | 119 feet (36 metres) |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Chipping Campden |
| Diocese | Gloucester |
| Province | Canterbury |
The Church of St James is a beautiful old church in Chipping Campden, a town in Gloucestershire, England. It's part of the Church of England. This church was mostly built in the 1400s, but it actually includes parts of an even older church from the 1100s! It's also a special 'Grade I listed building,' which means it's a very important historical place.
A Church Built on History
The Church of St James is sometimes called a 'wool church.' This is because it was built during a time when the wool trade made many people in the Cotswolds very rich. These wealthy wool merchants often gave money to build or improve their local churches.
Most of the church you see today was built in the 1400s. This was a time when a style called Gothic was popular. But before that, an even older Norman church stood on this exact spot since the year 1180. So, parts of that really old church are still inside the one you see now!
The church is part of the Diocese of Gloucester. This is like a special area that a bishop looks after.
What the Church Looks Like
The Church of St James is quite large. It has a main open area called a nave. There's also a chancel, which is the part where the altar is. On the sides, there are two aisles that run along the main part of the church.
At the west end of the church, there's a tall tower. This tower has five different levels and reaches 119 feet (about 36 metres) high!
Inside the Church
When you go inside, you can see many interesting things from long ago. There are special cloths for the altar from around the year 1500. You can also see a very old cope, which is a type of cloak worn by priests, from about the year 1400.
There are also monuments from the 1600s. One of these is for Sir Baptist Hicks and his family. He was a very successful silk merchant. Another special plaque remembers William Grevel. He was known as "the flower of the wool merchants of all England," meaning he was one of the best and most important wool traders of his time.
