Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

Grade I listed building. Main construction periods 1300 to 1799Church originally constructed as a chapel of ease during the 14th century. Additions and alterations were carried out during the 15th century. Restorations were carried out in 1854 and 1887. The church is constructed of ragstone.

Monument Types

• CHURCH (Medieval to Modern - 1300 AD to 2050 AD)

Full description

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Description from record TQ 94 NW 3:
[TQ 9082 4755] St. James's Church [TU] (1) St James's Church was originally a chapel of ease to Charing. The chancel, north chapel and north aisle are 14th century; the nave, south porch and west tower 15th. century. (2) St. James' Church. In regular use for divine worship. (3) In normal use. (4) 5272 EGERTON THE STREET (north-west side) Church of St James TQ 94 NW 10/1 14.2.67 I 2. Originally a Chapel of Ease to Charing. Built of Kentish ragstone. Chancel with north chapel (now the vestry), nave with north aisle, south porch and west tower in 3 stages, with an octagonal vice turret in the north-east corner carried up to form a beacon enplacement and buttresses at the other angles of the tower. Gargoyles. The chancel, north chapel and north aisle are C14. The nave, south porch and west tower C15, 3 bay nave with 2 crown posts, piscina and triple sedilia. The churchyard contains some table tombs, oval bodystones and some C18 headstones, with skull, cherub and hourglass motifs. The church stands in a very prominent position and is a land mark for miles around, like the church of Great Chart marking the northern edge of the Weard. (5) St James. The church was compldtely rebuilt in Decorated times, unsympathetically handled by Clarke in 1854 and Christian in the chancel in 1887. (6) Additional bibliography - not consulted. (7)

The following text is from the original listed building designation:
1. 5272 EGERTON THE STREET (north-west side) Church of St James TQ 94 NW 10/1 14.2.67 I 2. Originally a Chapel of Ease to Charing. Built of Kentish ragstone. Chancel with north chapel (now the vestry), nave with north aisle, south porch and west tower in 3 stages, with an octagonal vice turret in the north-east corner carried up to form a beacon enplacement and buttresses at the other angles of the tower. Gargoyles. The chancel, north chapel and north aisle are C14. The nave, south porch and west tower C15, 3 bay nave with 2 crown posts, piscina and triple sedilia. The churchyard contains some table tombs, oval bodystones and some C18 headstones, with skull, cherub and hourglass motifs. The church stands in a very prominent position and is a land mark for miles around, like the church of Great Chart marking the northern edge of the Weals. Listing NGR: TQ9071047466 (8)

Archive material: BF052994 CHURCH OF ST JAMES, EGERTON File of material relating to a site or building. This material has not yet been fully catalogued. Copyright, date, and quantity information for this record may be incomplete or inaccurate.

<1> OS 6" 1961 (OS Card Reference). SKE48369.

<2> M.H.L.G (West Ashford R.D) 1887/11 A October 1960 p.24 (OS Card Reference). SKE46231.

<3> F1 ASP 08-DEC-61 (OS Card Reference). SKE41995.

<4> F2 CFW 05-JAN-64 (OS Card Reference). SKE43206.

<5> DOE (HHR) Dist of Ashford, B Kent Oct 1980 102& (OS Card Reference). SKE40195.

<6> Bldgs of Eng W Kent & the Weald 1980 275 (J Newman) (OS Card Reference). SKE37863.

<7> Ch of St James Egerton 1958 (CF Band) (OS Card Reference). SKE38944.

<8> Field report for monument TQ 94 NW 3 - December, 1961 (Bibliographic reference). SKE4747.

<8> English Heritage, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest (Map). SKE16160.

<9> Field report for monument TQ 94 NW 3 - January, 1964 (Bibliographic reference). SKE4748.

Sources and further reading