Dursley Parish Church




St. James has a chancel, clerestoried nave, aisles with good Perpendicular windows, South porch and early 18th Century West tower. Much of the church is built of the local grey tufa stone. In January 1699 the spire and much of the medieval West tower fell to the ground. The tower was rebuilt 1707-09 to the design of Thomas Sumsion of Colerne. Its design is based on that of the 15th Century tower at Colerne with the addition of openwork battlements and pinnacles in the style of the Gloucester Coronet. It is of three stages with diagonal buttresses and bold stringcourses. The second stage is panelled and has image niches supported on acanthus. In 1866-68 the church was restored by T.G. Jackson. He rebuilt and extended the chancel and added the South chancel vestry and organ chamber. The nave roof was raised and clerestory windows added. The porch and South aisle were restored in 1888-89 by J.P. St Aubyn. The font is Early 14th Century octagonal bowl on modern shafts. There are splendid stained glass windows in the church by Burlison & Grylls; Lavers, Barraud & Westlake; William Pearce; Frederick Preedy; and Christopher Webb. There are also many elaborate wall tablets commemorating celebrated local citizens.
St. James The Great
Photos by John Wilkes
of Cam near Dursley, Gloucestershire
The Gloucestershire Photo Library:

Page composition by
Allan Taylor of Vancouver, Canada
http://www.allthecotswolds.com

More Photos of St. James the Great
RETURN TO MONTAGE INDEX