Listing Text

GREAT PACKINGTON PACKINGTON PARK
SP28SW
8/83 Church of St. James
08/09/61
GV I
Church. 1789 by Joseph Bonomi for 4th Earl of Aylesford. Red brick and sandstone
dressings. Plain-tiled roof with scrolled modillion eaves cornice. 4 corner
towers having stone ashlar to the upper courses above the eaves and surmounted
by drumless domes with 2 lunettes, and a ball finial. Central plan of cross in
square. Symmetrical elevations, each having a broken pediment above a large
tripartite lunette. Doorway in west wall has a stone surround and flat narrow
canopy on console brackets. Panelled double doors. Interior: Vaults and walls
are faced with painted ashlar. Groin centre and corner vaults with tunnel vaults
to the bays at the sides. The groin vault over the centre is carried on Greek
Doric columnms with entasis and a piece of triglyph frieze, in red sandstone.
Painting of IHS sign in clouds by J.F. Rigaud in white marble pedimented
altarpiece. Communion rail also of white marble with symmetrically turned
balusters. Organ of 1750 used frequently by Handel when it was in the music room
at Packington Hall.
(Buildings of England: Warwickshire: p297; M. Binney: Country Life, CXLVIII,
p102; VCH: Warwickshire; Vol IV)

Listing NGR: SP2299884076