Church of St. James, Taunton
The Church of St James is a Church of England parish church in Taunton, Somerset, England. It dates from the early 14th century, although an earlier church, associated with Taunton Priory, was located on the same site in the 10th century. The church is dedicated to St. James the Greater.[1] It is a Grade II* listed building.[2]
| Church of St James | |
|---|---|
Church of St James Location in Somerset | |
| 51°01′05″N 3°06′04″W / 51.018°N 3.101°W | |
| Location | Taunton |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Churchmanship | Low church/evangelical |
| Website | stjamestaunton.org |
| History | |
| Status | Church |
| Founded | c. 1169 |
| Dedication | Saint James the Greater |
| Specifications | |
| Height | 111 feet (34 m) |
| Materials | Red sandstone |
History edit
The waggon roof above the nave and north aisle is medieval. The south aisle and the south porch were rebuilt between 1836 and 1837, with the 111 feet (34 m)[3] west tower following in the 1870s and the chancel being rebuilt in 1884. The font dates from the 15th century and the pulpit from 1633.[4] There are fragments of 15th century stained glass in the West end.[5] Other stained glass is from Clayton and Bell in the 19th century.[6]
The iron railings around the churchyard are from the early 19th century.[7]
The church backs onto the Somerset County Ground and forms a familiar backdrop to the cricket ground.
Present day edit
The parish is part of Diocese of Bath and Wells.[8] It stands in the evangelical tradition of the Church of England.[9]
Gallery edit
- View of the church across the cricket ground
- Top of the church's tower
See also edit
References edit
- ^ (PDF). St James' Church, Taunton. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 February 2008. Retrieved 11 March 2011.
- ^ Historic England. "St James Church, St James Street, Taunton (1059956)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 24 May 2011.
- ^ Poyntz Wright, Peter (1981). The Parish Church Towers of Somerset, Their construction, craftsmanship and chronology 1350 - 1550. Avebury Publishing Company. ISBN 0-86127-502-0.
- ^ Historic England. "Church of St James (1059956)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 11 March 2011.
- ^ Wickham, Archdale Kenneth (1965). Churches of Somerset. London: David & Charles.
- ^ Historic England. "St James Church (1059956)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 16 September 2016.
- ^ Historic England. "Railings and gates to churchyard of the Church of St James (1344776)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 11 March 2011.
- ^ "St James, Taunton". A Church Near You. Church of England. Retrieved 16 September 2016.
- ^ "St James Taunton: About Us". www.achurchnearyou.com. The Archbishops’ Council. Retrieved 1 May 2023.
External links edit
- Media related to St. James' Church, Taunton at Wikimedia Commons
- St James' Church web site