St James' Church, Burton-in-Kendal facts for kids

Quick facts for kids St James' Church, Burton-in-Kendal
St James' Church, Burton-in-Kendal, from the northwest
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OS grid reference	SD 531 769
Location	Burton-in-Kendal, Cumbria
Country	England
Denomination	Anglican
Churchmanship	Conservative Evangelical
Website	St James, Burton
History
Status	Parish church
Architecture
Functional status	Active
Heritage designation	Grade I
Designated	12 February 1962
Style	Norman, Gothic
Specifications
Materials	Limestone, slate roofs
Administration
Parish	Burton-in-Kendal
Deanery	Kendal
Archdeaconry	Westmorland and Furness
Diocese	Carlisle
Province	York

St James' Church is a historic church located in the village of Burton-in-Kendal, which is in Cumbria, England. It is an active Anglican church, meaning it is part of the Church of England. This church serves as the main parish church for the area. It is also connected with Holy Trinity, Holme, sharing a joint leadership. St James' Church is very important historically, so it is listed as a Grade I building on the National Heritage List for England. This means it is a building of exceptional interest.

Exploring the Church's History

The oldest parts of St James' Church, like the lower part of its tower and the northwest corner of the main hall (called the nave), were built a very long time ago in the 12th century. These sections show the Norman style, which was popular back then.

Building Over the Centuries

• The north chapel was added in the late 13th century.
• In the 14th century, the south aisle (a side part of the church) was built.
• The north aisle and another south chapel were added in the late 15th or early 16th century.
• In 1844, the chancel (the area around the altar) and the north chapel were rebuilt. A clerestory was also added, which is a high section of wall with windows to let in more light.
• More changes happened in 1871. Architects Paley and Austin from Lancaster updated the church. They removed a gallery, added a north vestry (a room for clergy), and an organ chamber. They also replaced the seating, updated the pulpit (where sermons are given), and added a new font (a basin for baptisms).

St James' Church Today

Today, St James' Church follows a specific tradition within the Church of England called Conservative Evangelical. The church is led by the Revd Graham Burrows. It also receives special guidance from the Bishop of Maidstone, currently Rod Thomas.

Discovering the Architecture

St James' Church is built from limestone rubble (rough, unworked stones) with smoother sandstone and limestone details. Its roof is made of slate.

Church Layout and Features

The church has a central nave with a high clerestory for light. On either side of the nave are the north and south aisles. There is also a south porch at the entrance. The chancel is at the east end, with chapels on its north and south sides.

The church has a tall tower at the west end, which is divided into three sections. This tower features a two-light window (a window with two sections) and two-light bell openings where the bells are. The top of the tower has an embattled parapet, which looks like the top of a castle wall. Most of the windows in the church are in the Perpendicular style, known for its tall, narrow designs.

Inside the church, the pulpit is from the Jacobean period, which means it dates back to the early 17th century. The church also has beautiful stained glass windows created by different artists and companies, including Clayton and Bell, H. W. Bryans, Shrigley and Hunt, and Lavers, Barraud and Westlake. You can also find carved stone pieces inside the church that are very old, dating back to the late 10th or 11th century.

See also

• Grade I listed churches in Cumbria
• Grade I listed buildings in Cumbria
• Listed buildings in Burton-in-Kendal
• List of ecclesiastical works by Paley and Austin