St James' Church, Kingston facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St James' Church, Kingston |
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| 50°37′47″N 01°19′28″W / 50.62972°N 1.32444°W | |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Churchmanship | Broad Church |
| History | |
| Dedication | St James |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Kingston, Isle of Wight |
| Diocese | Portsmouth |
| Province | Canterbury |
St James' Church, Kingston is a historic church found in Kingston, Isle of Wight, England. It belongs to the Church of England, which is the main Christian church in England. This church has been a place of worship for a very long time. Today, it is part of a larger church area called Shorwell with Kingston, joining with the nearby Shorwell parish.
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Discovering St James' Church
St James' Church sits on a small hill, looking over the old manor-house. It's a simple, rectangular building that has kept much of its original design. The church was first built a very long time ago, in the late 1200s.
The Church's Design and Features
When you look at the church, you'll see some of its oldest parts. For example, there are special double windows on the north and south walls. These windows are called "lancet windows" because they are tall and narrow, like the tip of a spear.
The lower part of the east window is also original. Inside, on the south wall, there's a small, three-lobed niche called a "trefoiled credence." This was likely used during church services.
Changes Over Time
Over the centuries, the church has had some updates. In the 1400s, new windows and a south door were added. You can still see the decorative stone supports, called "corbels," above the east and west windows from this period.
Later, in 1766, a porch was built at the south door to welcome people. In 1872, a small room called a "vestry" was added. This room is often used by the clergy to prepare for services. During this time, the 1400s windows were replaced with new lancet windows.
A Glimpse into the Past
Inside the church, there's a special metal plaque from the 1500s. It's called a "brass" and it honors a person named Richard Meux, who passed away in 1535. The brass shows his family's coat of arms, which is like a special symbol for his family.
Modern Updates
The church was rebuilt by an architect named R.J. Jones in 1892. This means he helped update and restore parts of the building to keep it strong and beautiful for future generations.
