Last time we visited Wigmore Castle I omitted to visit the church of St James which has herringbone masonry inside and out. I explained to B and D that I just wanted to have a quick walk round the exterior of the church and churchyard and as, no doubt, the church was closed, I'd only be 10 minutes Doh! should never have said that the church was open. Could I resist going inside? No I couldn't. But it was a quick 10/15 minute whizz round snapping everything in sight only stopping to change the iso as parts of the church were really dark even though the nave was light and full of space. So please forgive poor quality of photos. As it happened I needn't have rushed as on the way back to the car B and D had had a drink in a pub garden and when I got back to the car they were buying icecreams! So yet again its another church I need to return to especially as I didn't look round the exterior or churchyard.
The Parish Church of St James was built, maintained and enlarged by the Mortimer Family and was probably built in the 11th Century on the site of an earlier church.
The nave probably dates to c1100 and the chancel was rebuilt in the early 14th century when a wide South Aisle was also added. The West Tower is mid 14th century.
The almost circular shape of the churchyard and its position on a ridge line surrounded by a wall suggests that the earlier Saxon church had been built on an earlier, perhaps Celtic, site.
The timber South Porch by G F Bodley who restored the nave and aisles in 1864/65 and the chancel in 1868.
The church door looks a lot older.
Piscina
Victorian encaustic tiles in the nave.
Here it is! The herringbone masonry on the north wall dates back to the 11th century and is constructed of local Silurian limestone.
15th century nave roof.
The North Chapel was added 1415 and has many memorial tables including one with weeping willows by EH Kevill Davies.
The pulpit is early 16th century and is polygonal with linen fold panels.
The Chancel
Victorian encaustic tiles by Chamberlain and Co of Worcester.
The four side windows in the chancel are by David Evans of Shrewsbury 1849.
The East Window c1879 probably by Clayton and Bell.
Kneelers which include a shell motif. The scallop shell of St James is believed to symbolise courage, strength and hope. For centuries it has been the symbol of pilgrims who journey to Santiago. In medieval times pilgrims would often wear a shell pilgrim badge as they travelled to shrines. They also carried a scallop shell and would be given food or water to fill it as they journeyed.
A plain 14th century octagonal font
The churchyard cross has a 14th century base with a 19th century shaft and head.
On Saturday we came home but called at Leigh Court Tithe Barn on the way which I'll write about in the next post.
I hope everyone is staying safe and well.
All photos taken by me with the Panasonic Lumix FZ330 bridge camera. Please note if you wish to use any of these photos I would be grateful if you could email me at the address under the profile. Thanks.
Reference: Information Boards around the Church
Pevsner "The Buildings of England Herefordshire" by A Brooke and N Pevsner. Published 2017 Yale University Press.
