St James' Church, Norlands facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St James's Church, Norlands |
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| Location | St James's Gardens London W11 4RA |
| Country | England, United Kingdom |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Churchmanship | Liberal Catholic |
| Architecture | |
| Architect(s) | Lewis Vulliamy Robert Jewell Withers |
| Completed | 1845 |
| Administration | |
| Parish | St Clement and St James |
| Deanery | Kensington |
| Diocese | London |
St James' Church, Norlands is a very old and important church in London, United Kingdom. It is part of the Church of England. Two architects, Lewis Vulliamy and Robert Jewell Withers, designed it. The church was finished in 1845 and officially opened on July 17 of that year. It is a special building, listed as Grade II, which means it is protected because of its history and architecture.
Contents
The Church Building
The church is made from white bricks from Suffolk. It faces from east to west. The tall tower is on the south side of the main part of the church. You enter through a porch at the bottom of the tower, which faces Addison Avenue.
Tower Design
The church's simple main building makes its three-part tower stand out. This tower was built in 1850. The first part of the tower has pointed supports called Buttresses. The middle part is shorter and has a clock face on each side. The top part is the belfry, where bells are kept. It has two deep, narrow windows, with single fake windows on either side.
There was a plan to add a tall, pointed roof called a broach spire to the tower. A drawing of this plan is in the Kensington Public Library. However, the spire was never built. Because of this, the tower looks a bit unfinished. The thin, eight-sided points on each corner stand out against the sky.
Inside the Church
The original design by Vulliamy included rounded sections at both the east and west ends of the church. But these were never built. In 1876, architect R. J. Withers extended the eastern end. These additions created the current chancel (the area around the altar), vestries (rooms for clergy), and a room for the organ.
The Church Gardens
The church is located in a small garden square. The gardens are designed in a relaxed style. They mostly have two lawn areas with plants around the edges. Large chestnut and lime trees surround the garden, making it feel peaceful. These gardens are usually private, used by people living in nearby homes. They are only open to the public sometimes.
St James's Church Today
Today, St James's Church is part of a larger church group called "St. Clement with St. Mark, Notting Dale and St. James, Norlands." This group belongs to the Archdeaconry of Middlesex within the Diocese of London. The church follows a "Liberal Catholic" tradition within the Church of England. This means it has some practices similar to the Catholic Church but is still part of the Church of England.
