St James' Church, Audlem
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| St James' Church, Audlem | |
St James' Church, Audlem |
|
  Shown within Cheshire
|
|
| Basic information | |
|---|---|
| Location | Audlem, Cheshire, England |
| Geographic coordinates | Coordinates: |
| Religious affiliation | Anglican |
| District | Diocese of Chester |
| Ecclesiastical status | Parish church |
| Architectural description | |
| Architect(s) | Lynam and Rickman |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Architectural style | Gothic |
| Year completed | 1856 |
| Specifications | |
| Materials | Red sandstone |
St James' Church, Audlem is in the village of Audlem in south Cheshire, England (grid reference SJ659437). It is a Grade I listed building[1] and a Scheduled Ancient Monument.[2] The church dates from the late 13th century with additions in the 19th century. It stands in an elevated position in the centre of the village and forms a focal point for the community.[3] It is still in use as a parish church.[2]
Contents |
[edit] History
The church is not recorded in the Domesday Book and it is thought that the first building on the site was given by Thomas de Aldelim to the priory of St Thomas at Stafford in the reign of Edward I.[4] After the dissolution of the monasteries the advowson was granted to the Bishop of Coventry and Lichfield.[5] The church dates from the late 13th and early 14th centuries. In 1855–56 there were additions and alterations by Lynam and Rickman.[1]
[edit] Structure
The church stands on a small mound in the centre of the village.[5] It is built of red sandstone ashlar with a lead roof.[1] Its plan consists of a nave of six bays with an embattled clerestory, a tower at the northwest corner of the nave, a north aisle with a chapel at its east end, a narrower south aisle, a chancel and a south porch.[6] The church is approached through the south porch by 26 steps arranged in a semicircle. The south wall contains a former priest's doorway which has been walled up and its steps removed. The tower has on its west face a two-light window, above which is a pair of windows and above these is a circular clock. The belfry windows have two lights and are louvred. The top is embattled with pinnacles at the four corners.[4]
[edit] Fittings and furniture
The nave roof is camber beamed. The holy table and pulpit are Jacobean. A two-tier chandelier was donated to the church in 1755. Also in the church is a 13th century chest.[4] Windows containing stained glass dated 1857 are by William Wailes. In the south aisle (Nativity scenes from 1882) and in the north aisle (dated 1893) are windows by Kempe.[7] Four memorial boards are present which are believed to have been painted by members of the Randle Holme family of Chester.[8] The ring consists of six bells, all dated 1736, which were rehung in 1891. The church plate includes a silver chalice dated 1635 and two silver alms dishes dated 1685. The parish registers begin in 1557.[4]
[edit] Notes
- ^ a b c Images of England: Church of St James, Audlem. English Heritage. Retrieved on 2008-01-29.
- ^ a b Pastscape: Church of St James, Audlem. English Heritage. Retrieved on 2008-01-29.
- ^ Clifton-Taylor, Alec (1974). English Parish Churches as Works of Art. London: Batsford, 21. ISBN 0 7134 2776 0.
- ^ a b c d Richards, Raymond (1947). Old Cheshire Churches. London: Batsford, 30–33.
- ^ a b Thornber, Craig (2005). A Scrapbook of Cheshire Antiquities: Audlem, accessed 4 August 2007
- ^ Salter, Mark (1995). The Old Parish Churches of Cheshire. Malvern: Folly Publications, 20-21. ISBN 1871731232.
- ^ Pevsner, Nikolaus; Edward Hubbard [1971] (2003). The Buildings of England: Cheshire. New Haven: Yale University Press, 68–69. ISBN 0 300 09588 0.
- ^ Hess, John P. (2007–2008). "Backford's Memorial Boards: were they painted by a Randle Holme?". Cheshire History 47: 34–39. ISSN 0141-8696.
