St James' Church, Dover facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St James' Church, Dover |
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The ruined church on St James Street
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| 51°07′35.07″N 1°19′01.44″E / 51.1264083°N 1.3170667°E | |
| OS grid reference | TR 322 415 |
| Location | Dover |
| Country | England |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Preserved |
| Heritage designation | Grade II |
| Designated | 30 June 1949 |
| Architectural type | Norman |
| Completed | c. 1070 |
| Demolished | (partially) 1940s |
St James' Church is a very old church in Dover, England. It was first built way back in the 11th century, which means it's almost 1,000 years old! Over time, it was fixed up, especially in the 1800s. Sadly, it was badly damaged during the Second World War. Today, it's a preserved ruin, meaning it's kept safe as an important historic building. It's listed as a Grade II building, which shows how special it is.
Contents
The Church's Long History
This church was originally built in a style called Norman architecture. You can still see parts of this old style, like a special arch with zig-zag patterns. This shows how strong and grand buildings were made back then.
The church is so old that it was even mentioned in a very important book called the Domesday Monachorum. This book was put together around the time of Lanfranc, who was a powerful Archbishop from 1070 to 1089. The Domesday Monachorum is like a partner book to the famous Domesday Book, which was a big survey of England. It listed St James' as one of the churches in Dover.
For many years, St James' Church was a special meeting place. It hosted the official courts of the Cinque Ports. The Cinque Ports were a group of important coastal towns in England. Their leaders, called Barons, met in a part of the church that was added in the 1300s. The very last meeting held here was in 1851. A famous leader, the Duke of Wellington, was in charge of that meeting. He was known for leading armies and was also the Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports.
The church closed in 1862 because it was getting too small for everyone who wanted to worship there. But it was fixed up again in 1869, and a musical organ was put inside.
Damage in the 20th Century
The church faced tough times in the 1900s. During the First World War, in 1916, bombs dropped by a seaplane landed nearby. Pieces of the blast hit the church and damaged its roof. It was repaired in 1931.
Then, in the Second World War, the church was hit very hard. German cannons fired from across the English Channel, and many shells landed in Dover. St James' Church was severely damaged. The church's tower, which was already weak, fell down in May 1950. After that, the building was made safe and kept as a "tidy ruin." This means it's not fully rebuilt, but it's looked after so people can still visit and see its history. In 1970, the local council bought the church and its grounds. Since then, it has been an open public space for everyone to enjoy.
A New Church for the Community
Because the old St James' Church became too small, a new church was built to replace it. This new church was constructed between 1860 and 1862. It was built a short distance away on Maison Dieu Road, where there was more room. Sadly, this new church was also damaged by shelling during the Second World War. It was eventually taken down in 1953.
See also
- Holy Trinity Church, Dover
- St Mary's Church, Dover
