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NOTICE BOARD
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INSIDE ST JAMES
As you stand at the back of the Church it is easy to think
that it has always looked the same; in fact, very little remains as it was
in 1840.
Central Aisle. In 1840 there were two aisles in the nave, the main body of
the Church. The congregation entered pews from either side of the aisles,
each pew having four "sittings" as they called them. In those early days
most people paid "Pew Rents" of eight shillings per pew each year. There
were also some "Free Pews", and if one looks on the ends of the front rows
today the word "free" may still be seen. The present pews were installed
in 1903.
Chancel Arch. In 1840 there was no chancel, but windows where the chancel
arch now is. Either side of the windows there were large boards inscribed
with the Lord's Prayer, the Creed and the Ten Commandments.
Underneath the original east windows of the Church was the altar, and on
both sides of the altar there were steps leading to large pulpits. The one
on the left hand side served as a reading desk or lectern; at that time
preaching and expounding the Bible was paramount.
The wrought iron screen was installed in 1909 in memory of John Frederick
May of Ridge Hill, Sutton.
Chancel. This was built in 1871. The altar, where each week we celebrate
the Last Supper and Christ's giving of Himself, is the focal paint of the
Church and of our worship. It may be the original of 1840, we do not know.
Some of the altar frontals are quite old; if they look new it is because
they have been expertly refurbished.
The mosaic reredos behind the altar depicts, in the centre, the scene of
the infant Christ receiving gifts from the Wise Men. On the left panel is
St James (Jacobus) and on the right hand panel St John. This reredos is a
reproduction of one in St Mark's, Venice, and was made in Italy. Further
details may be found an a brass plate on the south wall of the chancel.
The chancel ceiling is an outstanding feature of the Church. Note the
scallop shells, symbols of St James the fisherman.
Choir Stalls. The present ones were added in 1914, presented by William
Whiston of Langley. The red lamp commemorates those who died in the First
World War - see the brass plate on the north wall of the chancel, near the
organ. Click here for details of the Choir.
Vestry. This was added in 1881. Prior to that the vestry was at the west
end of the Church, in the room that is now the bell ringers' chamber.
Font. The font is not the original. The present one was made in 1883 from
Sicilian marble by William Gaulter, a monumental sculptor of Prestbury
Road, Macclesfield. Round the font are symbols of the four Gospels; St
Matthew, the man or angel; St Mark, the lion., St Luke, the bull; and St
John, the eagle. The first font was not immediately opposite the belfry
door, or vestry door as it was then; it was to the right of the original
altar.
Gallery. There was no gallery when the Church was originally built in
1840. A gallery was built in 1845, but in 1879 the Vicar and Churchwardens
decided that it should be removed and one Monday morning it was pulled
down. Parishioners were surprised (to say the least!) to find that it was
not there an the following Sunday. They were officially told that it was
unsafe.
This brought a series of heated meetings in the School (now the Church
Hall), followed by legal proceedings in the Ecclesiastical Court at
Chester. The outcome was that the Vicar and Churchwardens were not forced
to replace the gallery but were ordered to ensure that the equivalent
number of "sittings" that had been removed were restored to the Church.
The original gallery was reached by a stone staircase on the outside of
the Church, and the faint outline of this may be seen if one turns right
outside the main door.
The present gallery was added in 1903.
Spire. When the Church was being planned it was by no means certain that
the funds would stretch to adding a spire to the tower. The problem was
solved when Hannah Newbold, mother of the Secretary of the Building
Committee, offered to pay for the spire herself.
Organ. An organ was installed in 1901, and the organ chamber was extended
in 1935 to install electric blowing apparatus. (It could be pumped by hand
if there is a power cut - and was!). Click here for details of the current
restored organ.
Bells - click here to link to the bells pages and their history.
Windows - click here for details of the windows.
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