St James Church, Quedgeley facts for kids
St James Church is a Church of England church located in Quedgeley, a town near Gloucester, Gloucestershire, England. It is a very old and important building, recognized as a Grade II listed building since January 1955. This means it's a special building that needs to be protected because of its history and architecture.
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History of St James Church
A small chapel stood on this spot even before the year 1095. That's when the area of Quedgeley became its own church parish. In the 1100s, a woman named Margaret Mautravers gave land for the church to be built. At that time, it was sometimes called St. Mary Magdalene.
Building the Church Over Time
The main part of St James' Church was built in 1210. Over the next few centuries, more sections were added. The chancel, which is the area around the altar, was built in the 1200s. The south aisle, a side section of the church, was added in the 1300s. The church tower was also built in the late 1300s.
In 1856, a beautiful new east window was put in. It was made by a company called Messrs. Hardman and shows scenes of the Resurrection and Crucifixion. The next year, in 1857, the chancel and the nave (the main part of the church where people sit) were rebuilt. A north aisle was also added. These changes were designed by an architect named H. Woodyer. New pews (church benches) and a baptismal font (a basin for baptisms) were also added around this time. Later, around 1887, a vestry (a room for clergy) was built, along with a room for the organ and a porch on the south side of the tower.
Architecture and Design
The church building is made from ashlar, which are finely cut stones. It has a roof made of Cotswold stone, a type of stone common in the area. The space between the nave and the north aisle has three "bays," which are sections of the building, designed in the style of the 1200s. The roof inside is panelled in an Elizabethan style. It has decorative carvings called "bosses" and also features the family symbols, or "coat of arms," of the Arnold and Barrow families.
Special Features Inside
The font used for baptisms is very old, dating back to the 1100s. It is round and simple, set within an eight-sided stone base with small, colourful mosaic panels.
In the south aisle, the east window has very old medieval glass. This glass is surrounded by decorative stone carvings, making it a beautiful and historic part of the church.
