St James’ Church, Stirchley

Dating to the Norman period, St James’ Church was founded in the mid to late 12th century. A small settlement grew up around the church with the creation of a parish of Stirchley established in the 13th century.

When you open the wrought iron gate to enter the churchyard of St James’ Church, the first impression is of a typical small 18th-century Georgian-style church built of red brick. However, walk round the side of the church and you will see a solid mass of sandstone blocks that make up the square chancel. This chancel is part of the original church building that was built around the middle of the 12th century, making it almost 900 years old.

Inside the church, the same startling contrast can be seen. The plan of the church is simple but it retains several Norman features. Among these are the wonderful 12th-century Norman-style chancel arch and several small narrow 12th-century windows. However, it is also suggested that the chancel arch may actually be set in an even older Anglo-Saxon one. The chancel is constructed in squared yellow sandstone blocks, but the 18th-century nave and tower are in Georgian style, and constructed in red brick with sandstone dressings. The interior furnishings are mostly Georgian, with a range of box pews a west gallery, and a nicely carved pulpit.

The church was declared redundant in 1975, and during a restoration in 1979 the plaster was removed from the east wall of the nave, where some late medieval wall painting was exposed. The church was handed over to the Churches Conservation Trust in 2006 and the building is now in a very good state of preservation. The keys to enter the church can be obtained from the Old Refectory of St James, which is adjacent to the church.