St James' Church, Charfield facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St James' Church, Charfield |
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St James' Church, Charfield, from the north
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| OS grid reference | ST 718 911 |
| Location | Charfield, Gloucestershire |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Anglican |
| Website | [1] |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Redundant |
| Heritage designation | Grade I |
| Designated | 30 March 1960 |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Style | Gothic |
| Groundbreaking | 13th century |
| Completed | 15th century |
| Specifications | |
| Materials | Stone with Cotswold stone slate roofs |
St James' Church is a very old and special Anglican church. It is located at Churchend in the village of Charfield, Gloucestershire, England. This historic building stands on a steep hillside, offering views over the valley below. It is so important that it is protected as a Grade I listed building. This means it is considered a building of great historical and architectural interest. Today, The Churches Conservation Trust takes care of it.
Contents
A Look Back: History of the Church
The story of St James' Church began a very long time ago, in the 13th century. Most of the church you see today was rebuilt in the 15th century. This rebuilding was possible thanks to money from the local wool trade, which was very important in the area back then.
During the 18th century, the wool industry moved down into the valley. This left the church feeling a bit "isolated" on its hillside. The church was later repaired in the 1970s to keep it in good condition.
What the Church Looks Like: Architecture
St James' Church is built from stone, using rough pieces of rock called rubble. Its roofs are made from Cotswold stone slates, which are a type of flat stone tile.
The church has a main open area called a nave. On the south side of the nave, there is a smaller section called an aisle. On the north side, there is a porch where people enter. The church also has a chancel, which is the part of the church near the altar. At the west end, there is a tall tower.
The Tower
The tower has four main levels. It has strong supports called buttresses at its corners. At the very top level, you can see openings where the church bells are. The top edge of the tower has a battlemented parapet, which looks like the top of a castle wall. The tower is topped with a special roof shape called a saddleback roof, which looks like a saddle.
Windows and Entrances
On the north wall of the nave, there are two windows, each with three sections. Between these windows is the porch. The porch has a fancy top edge with holes, called a pierced parapet. It also has a small space, or niche, where a statue might have once stood.
The chancel has two three-section windows on its north wall. There is also a large three-section window at the east end. A door that priests used to use is now blocked up. Along the wall of the south aisle, there are three more three-section windows.
Inside the Church
Inside the church, between the nave and the south aisle, there is a row of arches called an arcade. This arcade has three sections, and the columns supporting the arches are shaped like octagons.
In the nave, you can find a squint. This is a small opening that allowed people to see the altar, even if they were in a different part of the church. The chancel has a special basin called a piscina, which has a trefoil (three-leaf) shape at the top. There are also parts of old niches where statues once stood. You can also see memorials inside the church from 1717 and 1756.
Outside the Church: Churchyard Features
The churchyard around St James' Church is also very interesting. It has five separate "chest tombs." These are like stone boxes that sit on the ground, used as memorials. There is also a group of four more chest tombs. All of these tombs are from the 18th century and are made of limestone ashlar, which is finely cut stone. The group of four tombs are surrounded by cast iron railings.
The churchyard also holds a special memorial for 15 people who sadly died in the Charfield railway disaster in 1928. You can also find a war grave for a World War II airman here.
See also
In Spanish: Iglesia de San James (Charfield) para niños
