Description

HUNSTANWORTH HUNSTANWORTH
NY 94 NW
4/58 (inset) Church of St. James
31.1.67
GV II*

Parish church; 1862-3 rebuilding, by S.S. Teulon for Rev. Daniel Capper of
Newbiggin, of 1781 church on medieval site. Snecked sandstone of varied colours
and pale ashlar plinth, quoins and dressings; diaper-patterned roof of purple
and green slates with roll-moulded ridge-tiles and stone gable copings. Nave
with north aisle, north-west tower and stair turret and south porch; apsed
chancel with north vestry. 6-bay nave has porch in first bay; buttressed fifth
bay projects slightly; buttressed narrow sixth bay. Lower chancel with 5
windows.

Steeply-gabled porch has double boarded doors in double-chamfered 2-centred
arch; side buttresses and curved kneelers under gable with stone cross finial.
3 small lancets in return walls of porch. Plate tracery in 4-light nave and
3-light aisle west windows; and in other windows, of 2 lights except for group
of 3 in fifth and 2 in sixth nave bays, the fifth with central gabled canopy.
Roundels in west bays of chancel. Tower has one high stage, with 3-light north
window, and lancet slits in second stage, under string and 3 cusped belfry
openings. Round stair turret with conical roof, on north-east corner.
Pyramidal tower roof with peacock wind-vane; steeply-pitched nave roof with
finials, and angelus cross; slightly lower chancel roof rounded over apse.
Interior: painted plaster with ashlar dressings. Arch-braced collar-truss nave
roof, with upper king posts, struts and 2 levels of purlins with wind braces.
Closely-set scissor trusses in chancel. 3-bay north arcade, tower, chancel
and sanctuary arches all 2-centred and chamfered; round piers. Chancel has
north arcaded frieze; south arched recess for priest's chair. Stone pulpit and
side steps under paired arches, in rudimentary transept. Round stone pedestal
font on octagonal plinth continuous with west shaft of arcade. Glass mostly
original clear and coloured geometrical; 2 windows commemorating Edward and
John Joicey, died 1879 and 1881, by Kempe; chancel windows have geometrical
patterns with pictorial panels. Gothic painted-and-carved chamber organ by
Gray and Davison, Euston Road, London, said to have been shown in 1851.
Exhibition at Crystal Palace. Other original fittings include doors with high-
quality iron work, wood altar (now brought forward) and communion rail.

Carved alabaster panel on west wall in low relief 'We thank thee/LORD/for
bringing back/our soldiers/safely home/1914-1918.

Listing NGR: NY9490649021

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q17536546

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

Recommended Books

• 
  A Buying and Owning a Listed Building: A Brief Guide
• 
  Oxfordshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Sussex: East with Brighton and Hove (Buildings of England) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Essex: Buildings of England Series (Buildings of England) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Historic Environment Law: Planning, Listed Buildings, Monuments, Conservation Areas and Objects, Supplement 2014
• 
  This Old House: Restoring, Rehabilitating, and Renovating an Older House