Church of St James, Iddesleigh facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St James' Church, Iddesleigh |
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St James' Church from the south
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 St James' Church, Iddesleigh
Location in Devon
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| 50°51′21″N 4°02′04″W / 50.855810°N 4.034496°W | |
| OS grid reference | SS 56900 08226 |
| Location | Iddesleigh, Devon |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| History | |
| Status | Operational |
| Founded | 13th century |
| Architecture | |
| Heritage designation | Grade I listed building |
| Designated | 22 February 1967 |
| Style | Gothic |
| Specifications | |
| Capacity | 120 seats |
| Bells | 6 |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Iddesleigh |
| Diocese | Exeter |
St James' Church is an old church located in the small village of Iddesleigh, in Devon, England. It was first built way back in the 13th century (that's the 1200s!), but most of what you see today was built in the 15th century (the 1400s). Over the years, it has been changed and repaired many times.
Contents
Where is St James' Church?
Iddesleigh is a small village in Devon, England. Before the Norman conquest of England in 1066, it was known as leddeslegh.
The village today has many charming thatched cottages and houses. From the church, you can see amazing views of Dartmoor. This includes famous hills like Cawsand Beacon, Yes Tor, and High Willhays. The rivers Torridge and Okement flow nearby.
A Look at the Church's History
The land where the church stands once belonged to the De Sully family. One member of this family was a famous crusader, a knight who traveled to fight in religious wars. Later, the land passed to other important families, including Sir John Leger and Sir Stafford Northcote, 1st Earl of Iddesleigh.
The church building itself started in the 13th century. However, most of its current look comes from the 15th century. Records of births, deaths, and marriages in the parish began in 1541. In 1641, 92 adult men from Iddesleigh signed an oath to support the Protestant religion. This gives us an idea of how many people lived there at the time.
The church has been repaired and updated many times:
- In 1720, parts of the church were rebuilt.
- More repairs and rebuilding happened in 1848.
- A new room called the vestry was added in 1850.
- Special stained-glass windows were put in during 1866 to remember people.
- The church had a big restoration in 1879, making it look much better.
- Another memorial window was added in 1887 for the 1st Earl of Iddesleigh.
- A new organ was installed in 1897.
- In 1912, the reredos (a decorated screen behind the altar) and a south chancel window were added.
Because of its long history and special design, St James' Church was named a Grade I listed building on February 22, 1967. This means it's a very important historical building that needs to be protected.
What Does the Church Look Like?
St James' Church is built in the Gothic style, which was popular for churches in the Middle Ages. Its walls are made of slate stone, and some parts, like the tower's supports, use granite. The roof is covered in slate tiles.
The Tower and Bells
The church has a tall, four-story tower at its western end. It has battlements, which are like the tops of castle walls. You can also see crouching animal gargoyles on top of each buttress (support).
Inside the tower are six bells!
- The first two bells were made in 1620.
- The third bell is from 1629.
- The largest bell has an old English inscription dedicated to St. George.
- In 1911, two new bells were added to celebrate the coronation of King George V.
Inside the Church
The church has a chancel (the area around the altar), a nave (the main part where people sit), aisles (passageways), and a south porch. It can seat about 120 people.
The inside has tall granite arches. The nave and north aisle have beautiful barrel vault ceilings. These are the original ceilings from the 15th century and have detailed carvings.
Other interesting features include:
- A part of a 15th-century screen with fancy patterns in the north chapel.
- An early 17th-century pulpit (where the preacher stands) with a carved lectern (a stand for reading).
- An octagonal (eight-sided) granite font, which is a basin used for baptisms. It might be from 1538.
- A slate memorial from 1681 on the north wall of the chancel. It remembers Wilmot Veale, the rector's wife, and has a carved figure of a woman and child.
The Crusader Effigy
One of the most fascinating things in the church is a stone carving, called an effigy, of a military figure. It's almost 6 feet long and dates back to about 1250. You can find it under a low arch in the north aisle, behind the organ.
The figure is lying down with crossed legs. Its head rests on a pillow, and its feet are on a lion. The figure wears mail armor under a long coat. It also has a sword and a shield, but there are no symbols on the shield. People think this effigy might represent an ancestor of Sir John Sully. He was a crusader who owned land in Iddesleigh and lived to be 105 years old, dying in 1387!
How the Church is Organized
St James' Church, Iddesleigh, is part of the Diocese of Exeter within the Church of England.
The church was likely first named after Saint James the Less. Later, people started to think it was named after James the Great. Interestingly, none of the six bells in the church are dedicated to James.
The "Friends Of St James, Iddesleigh" is a charity that helps the church. They raise money and support the church council in keeping the building in good condition. They also give grants to help with local heritage, arts, culture, and science.
