St James the Less Church, Lancing facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St James the Less Church |
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The church from the south
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| 50°50′16″N 0°19′21″W / 50.8379°N 0.3226°W | |
| Location | Manor Road, North Lancing, Lancing, West Sussex BN15 0EY |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Churchmanship | Anglo-Catholic |
| Website | https://www.chalkspringchurches.org/st-james-the-less |
| History | |
| Status | Parish church of Lancing with Coombes |
| Founded | 12th century |
| Dedication | St James the Less |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Heritage designation | Grade I |
| Designated | 12 October 1954 |
| Style | Early English/Decorated Gothic (Transitional) |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Lancing, St James the Less |
| Deanery | Rural Deanery of Worthing |
| Archdeaconry | Chichester |
| Diocese | Chichester |
St James the Less Church is an old Anglican church located in Lancing, a town in West Sussex, England. It serves as the main church for the area of Lancing with Coombes. The church was first built in the 12th century. It stands in North Lancing, which was one of the original settlements in the area.
Most of the church you see today was built in the 13th century. Over the years, it has been repaired and rebuilt many times. This was especially true in the 18th and 19th centuries. Back then, the church was in very bad condition. Because of its important history and beautiful design, English Heritage has given it a special Grade I listing. This means it is a very important building.
Contents
History of the Church
Early Beginnings
The name Lancing comes from the Saxons. It suggests that people settled here a long time ago. In fact, things from the 6th century have been found nearby. In 1086, during the Domesday survey, a powerful lord named Robert le Savage owned the land. The area was mostly used for farming.
Over time, the large area of Lancing was split into smaller parts. North Lancing and South Lancing became the most important. Three small communities grew: North Lancing near the hills, South Lancing by the coast, and Pende, which was once a busy port but has now disappeared.
Building the First Church
There was no church in the area until the 12th century. The first church was built in North Lancing around 1120. We know this from looking at the old stone walls. Around 1180, a curved doorway was added. This doorway is now part of the porch on the south side of the church.
The entire church was rebuilt between 1280 and 1300. This gave the church its current shape and look. Even though it took a long time to finish, the church looks very complete and well-designed. In the 15th century, a staircase was added to reach the tower. Part of the north side of the church had to be closed off for this.
Times of Trouble
In the 17th century, many churches in England fell into disrepair. People were not attending church as much. This was true in Sussex, including North Lancing. The church tower of St James the Less started to fall apart in 1618. By 1621, it was repaired by making it shorter and adding a special "Sussex cap" roof.
However, the rest of the church quickly became ruined. Birds nested inside, and the font (a basin for baptisms) was empty. By 1662, the church could not be used anymore.
Restoration and Repairs
Things started to get better in the late 1700s. Some repair work was done on the church. More major rebuilding happened in 1827. This added more seating and changed some of the windows. The newest part of the church is a small room called a vestry, which was added in 1934.
Church Design and Features
Building Materials and Style
The church is built using flint cobblestones. Some parts still have a rough, pebbly finish. Smooth, cut stone called Ashlar was also used. The church is a great example of how architecture changed from the Early English Gothic style to the Decorated Gothic style in the late 13th century.
Layout of the Church
From west to east, the church has a main area called a nave with three sections. It has aisles on both the north and south sides. There is a short tower and a chancel, which is the area around the altar. The chancel roof is lower than the nave's.
On the south side, there is a porch with an entrance. Another door is at the west end. A small room called a vestry is located at the northeast corner.
Tower and Doorways
The tower used to be much taller and had a flat top. After it collapsed in 1618, it was rebuilt shorter. A pyramid-shaped slate roof, common in Sussex, was added. The year of this repair is carved into the north wall.
The original entrance doorway is still in the south porch. It has a round arch supported by carved pillars. These pillars have Norman-style tops. The stone carvings are very detailed for the Norman period. Inside this doorway, there is an old basin for holy water, but it is now in poor condition. The other doorway, at the west end, looks similar but was likely built in the 15th century. Large supports called Buttresses were added around the tower in the 17th century. A big buttress is also on the south side of the chancel.
Windows and Interior
Most of the windows are in the Decorated Gothic style. They have one or two sections of glass. Some later windows are in the Perpendicular Gothic style. The chancel has larger windows with three sections. Beautiful Stained glass was put into three windows in 1866.
Inside the church, you can still see parts of the first Norman building. These are in the west wall of the nave and the east end of the chancel. The main parts of the church were rebuilt when English Gothic architecture was at its best. The carved arches, octagonal pillars, and decorative carvings are considered excellent examples. The wooden roof of the nave has also been praised.
Other old features inside include a 14th-century Easter sepulchre (a special place used during Easter). There is also a 12th-century square font that is still in good condition.
The Church Today
St James the Less Church was given its Grade I listing by English Heritage on October 12, 1954. Buildings with this listing are considered to be of "exceptional interest." As of February 2001, it was one of seven Grade I listed buildings in the Adur district.
The church follows a Traditional Anglo-Catholic style of worship. A quiet service called a Said Mass is held every Wednesday at 11 am. A Sung Parish Mass, with music from the organ and choir, is held every Sunday at 10:30 am. Everyone is welcome to attend.
The church's area, called the parish, covers about 2,236 acres. The eastern edge is the River Adur. The railway line forms the southern border. On the west side, the old boundary with Sompting parish is still used. Old field boundaries on the South Downs are kept in the north.
See also
