The present church, built in 1749 on the site of a former edifice, which
had become ruinous, is an oblong structure in the Grecian style,
consisting of nave, chancel, and side aisles, with a tower at the west
end. This tower is the only existing portion of the old church which
remains, and is crowned with eight crochetted pinnacles. It has an
excellent illuminated clock; and a peal of six bells, which were recast
in 1706. The interior has a handsome appearance: four Doric pillars on
each side the nave support the ceiling, which is carved and decorated
with the fret-work of the old church. Over the side aisles and west end
are commodious galleries, in the latter of which is a superior organ,
erected by subscription in 1834. The east window contains a figure of
St. James, in ancient stained glass, which was purchased from a splendid
collection brought from Rouen in 1804. Several of the other windows are
ornamented with armorial bearings. There is only one monument of any
antiquity: a coarse marble slab, inscribed in Longobaric capitals to a
member of the Trumwin family. Among the memorials of a modern date is
one to the memory of Mr. John Allatt, the benevolent founder of Allatt’s
Free School. The south aisle contains a neat memorial, of the Grinshill
freestone, to commemorate the liberality of the late Rev. Richard Scott,
B.D., who expended upwards of £1,500 in the reparations of this church,
and other improvements connected with the fabric. It contains the
following inscription, dated 1847, in reference to the improvements made
by Mr. Scott: “Who, in Christian love, and a desire to honour God with
his substance, has caused an effective architectural character to be
given to the exterior of the south side of this sacred edifice, which,
from the limited funds raised for its re-edification in 1750, necessarily
induced brick as a material, and a design possessing little claim to
taste; stone piers are now set at each end of the building and between
the lower windows, which have been lengthened. Above, on a block
cornice, are Roman Doric pilasters which sustain an entablature, crowned
by an open balustrade and vase-shaped acroteria. Fretted console tables
have been added to the upper windows, the architecture entirely renewed,
and, like those below, re-glazed with metallic frame-work. A new portal
and door at the eastern end of the south aisle, and the surface of this
portion of the church and chancel, covered with stucco; the apex of the
gable being finished with an appropriate ornament.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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