St. James, Dursley, Gloucestershire

Description

The parish church of St. James is an ancient and venerable building, chiefly in the Perpendicular style, consisting of chancel, clerestoried nave of five bays, aisles, south porch, and an embattled western tower containing 8 bells and a clock with chimes; the tower is of comparatively modern date, the ancient tower having fallen in 1709: the peal of 8 bells was re-cast with added metal in 1904, and a new clock with the Cambridge quarter chimes, and with a carillon playing a different tune for each day every three hours, was given by Mrs. Eyre, of Kingshill, in 1905: in 1888 a magnificent organ, costing £1,000, was presented as a memorial to the late F. E. Eyre esq. of Kingshill, by his widow, and a memorial window was erected in the chancel by members of the Wallington family; there are also memorial windows to the late Rev. Canon Madan, rector here 1865-87, and to the Rev. W. Bennett D.D.: a reredos of carved oak and mahogany, illuminated, was given by the late F. J. Searancke esq. and canopied sedilia and choir stalls were presented by the Rev. S. E. Bartleet M.A. rector 1899-1911, and G. Wenden esq.: the church was restored in 1867, when the chancel was extended eastwards about 25 feet, and the walls of the church raised about 20 feet in order to form a clerestory: the porch was restored in 1889 at a cost of £400: the late Dr. Tilton left, £500 for the decoration of the parish church and other purposes, and from the proceeds of this legacy the chancel steps were renewed in marble, a fine brass eagle lectern provided, and a stained window placed in the south aisle: there are 800 sittings.

Church Records

The register dates from the year 1566, and contains some entries relating to members of the Shakespeare family.

The Phillimore transcript of Marriages at Dursley 1639-1812 is available to browse online.