St James's Church, Trowbridge facts for kids

Quick facts for kids St James's Church
St James's Church from the north-east
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Location	Trowbridge, Wiltshire
Country	United Kingdom
Denomination	Anglican
History
Founded	1200
Dedication	James the Great
Architecture
Functional status	Parish church
Heritage designation	Grade I
Designated	1950
Style	Perpendicular Gothic
Specifications
Spire height	160 feet (49 metres)
Bells	12
Tenor bell weight	24cwt-2qrs-18lbs in D
Administration
Parish	Trowbridge
Benefice	Trowbridge Saint James and Keevil
Deanery	Bradford
Archdeaconry	Wilts
Diocese	Salisbury
Province	Canterbury

St James's Church is the main Church of England church in Trowbridge, Wiltshire, England. This historic building, built in the 1400s, is a very important landmark in the town. It is known for its beautiful design and tall spire.

Many people are buried here. This includes the famous poet George Crabbe, who was the church's rector from 1814 to 1832. Also, Thomas Helliker, a person connected to early worker's rights, is buried in the churchyard.

History of St James's Church

The very first church in Trowbridge was probably made of wood. It stood on high ground near the River Biss. Later, a stone church was built in its place around the mid-900s.

When Trowbridge Castle was built in the 1100s, this early church was inside the castle grounds. Old tombstones from its graveyard have been found. Some are now in Trowbridge Museum. One is even in the porch of the church you see today.

Building the Current Church

The current parish church of St James was built around 1200. It was placed outside the castle walls to serve the growing town. The older church was taken down to make way for it.

Changes and additions were made in the 1300s. These parts are some of the oldest you can still see. A tall spire was added to the tower. Around 1450, the main part of the church, called the nave, was rebuilt. It was made much grander in the popular Perpendicular style. This building work likely took about 30 years. It created the church we mostly see today. Only the tower, spire, and chancel (the area around the altar) from the old church remained.

Changes Over Time

In the 1500s, during the time of Elizabeth I, the chancel got a fancy plaster ceiling. In 1540, a writer named John Leland described the church as "lightsome and fair."

Later, in the 1600s and 1700s, many people in Trowbridge became non-conformists. This meant they did not follow the Church of England. Because of this, the parish church was sometimes neglected. By the mid-1800s, the building was in poor condition. The spire was leaning, and parts of the stone were falling off.

Restorations and Repairs

A big restoration project began in the 1840s. It was led by Rev. J. D. Hastings and finished in 1848. He also tidied up the churchyard. The graveyard was closed in 1856. Inside the church, only 18 monuments from before this restoration remain.

More repairs happened between 1926 and 1930. The battlements (wall tops), pinnacles (small towers), and the top of the spire were fixed. In 1953, a special chapel was restored for its original use.

The church was officially recognized as a Grade I listed building in 1950. This means it is a very important historic building.

Recent Challenges

St James's Church faced two big problems in the late 1900s. In May 1986, the roof of the nave caught fire. There was a lot of damage from smoke and water. The repairs cost £200,000.

Then, on January 25, 1990, a strong storm hit the town. It was called the Burns' Day Storm. The top 20 feet of the spire blew off! It crashed through a part of the church that had not been damaged before. Luckily, no one was hurt. The church was repaired again, costing £400,000.

Architecture of St James's Church

The entire church building is in the Gothic style. Most of it is in the Perpendicular style. This style is known for its large windows, tall Pinnacles, and Battlements. The church also has a very tall and slender spire. It is the second highest spire in Wiltshire, after Salisbury Cathedral. The spire reaches a height of 160 feet (49 metres).

The church was greatly restored in the 1800s. However, it still has some of its original medieval parts. The restoration rebuilt or renewed many sections. This included the chancel, a south chapel, and the main arches inside.

Inside the Church

The tall main area, called the nave, has a wide arcade (a row of arches). It also has a small clerestory (a high row of windows). The ceiling is very decorative with plaster panels. The aisles on the sides of the nave extend to surround most of the tower.

The tower has a special arched ceiling called a fan vault below the ringing room. The north porch also has a fan vault.

Bells of St James's Church

The church tower originally had a peal of eight bells. These bells were made in 1800. In 1912, some of the bells were recast (melted down and reshaped). They were also rehung.

In 1923, two more bells were added. This made it a peal of ten bells. These new bells were added to remember those who died in the Great War.

Wiltshire's First Peal of Twelve Bells

By the 1930s, the bells needed more work. The townspeople raised money for a big project. In 1934, all the bells were recast by a famous bell foundry. They added more metal to the bells. This made St James's Church the first and only church in Wiltshire to have a peal of twelve bells.

The largest bell, called the tenor, weighs about 2,742 pounds (1,244 kg). It strikes the note D. Because the tower is not very big, the bells are hung in a special way. They are in a new metal frame with two levels. Five bells are on the lower level, and the other seven are on the upper level.

Notable Rectors

The famous poet George Crabbe was the rector of St James's Church. He served from 1814 until he passed away in 1832.