Church of St James the Great, Darlington facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Church of St James the Great, Darlington |
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Church of St James the Great, Darlington
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| 54°31′59″N 1°32′19″W / 54.53292°N 1.53868°W | |
| Location | Allen Street, Albert Hill, Darlington, DL1 2LD |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Churchmanship | Traditional Catholic |
| History | |
| Status | Active |
| Consecrated | 30 August 1876 |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Parish church |
| Heritage designation | Grade II listed |
| Architect(s) | Ross and Lamb, Darlington |
| Groundbreaking | 14 April 1875 |
| Completed | 30 August 1876 |
| Specifications | |
| Length | 104 feet (32 m) |
| Nave width | 21 feet (6.4 m) |
| Spire height | 148 feet (45 m) (planned) |
| Administration | |
| Parish | St. James, Albert Hill |
| Archdeaconry | Archdeaconry of Auckland |
| Diocese | Diocese of Durham |
The Church of St James the Great is a special church in Darlington, County Durham. It's part of the Church of England and serves as a local parish church for the community. This church is also a grade II listed building, which means it's an important historical building protected by law.
Contents
History of the Church
The area around St James' Church became its own church parish in 1872. Before that, it was part of the St John's Church, Darlington parish.
Building the Church
Plans for the new church were drawn up in 1873 by architects Ross and Lamb from Darlington. The first stone was laid on April 14, 1875, by H.F. Pease, who was the Mayor of Darlington at the time.
Many local businesses helped build the church:
- Simpson and Cowling handled the stone work.
- R.T. Smith did the joinery (woodwork).
- Pattison and Son took care of the slating for the roof.
- R. Smith managed the plumbing and glazing (windows).
Mr. Davison was the clerk of works, making sure everything was built correctly. All these companies were local, which helped the community.
Church Design and Opening
The church was built in a cruciform shape, which means it looks like a cross from above. It has a main area called a nave without side aisles.
The church was officially opened and blessed on August 30, 1876. This ceremony was led by the Bishop of Durham, Charles Baring. In 1952, the church was given its special grade II listed building status, recognizing its historical and architectural importance.
St James Today
Today, St James' Church follows a traditional style of worship within the Church of England. Because of its beliefs, the church receives special guidance from a bishop called the Bishop of Beverley (currently Stephen Race). This is known as alternative episcopal oversight.
Church Organ
A large pipe organ was put into the church in 1900 by a company called Lewis and Co. It was officially dedicated on June 28, 1900, by the vicar of Darlington, Revd. F.W. Mortimer. You can find details about this organ on the National Pipe Organ Register.
Later, this pipe organ was sold to St Andrew's Church in Ingleby, Greenhow. It was replaced at St James' with a modern electronic organ.
