HerefordshireCOLWALLStJamesGreat(philippankhurstCC-BY-SA2.0)1 PhilipPankhurst

St James the Great

A church with a variety of notable architectural features from the 12th to the 20th centuries , with fine timber framed roof, ‘Grocer Pews’ linking with the Grocers’ Company local school now the present Elms School, and links with founder of the MU Mary Sumner married here.

Colwall, Herefordshire

Opening times

Open all day every day from 8am to 730pm, or dusk if earlier.

Address

Mill Lane
Colwall
Herefordshire
WR13 6HJ

The Norman church was started in the 12th century as evidenced by the main south doorway with its scalloped capitals and a round headed arch on the west front of the nave. The south aisle was added in the middle of the 13th century. The south west tower is unusually situated and houses ten bells with six dating from 1778. In 1865 the chancel was replaced and widened and in 1880 the north aisle was added. In 2010 the chancel was reordered.

Some notable features in the church include a fine 14th century timber framed roof with a tie beam inscribed 1675 with the initials of two churchwardens, pews in the north aisle bearing the words ‘Grocers School’ referring to the nearby Elms School built in 1612, a 13th century font, and a carved Jacobean pulpit with canopy. Memorials include a stone slab to Edward Walwyn of Brockbury 1587, another Walwyn member with the motto ‘doe well and fear not’ and a brass tablet to Elizabeth Harford 1590 facing her husband, six sons and four daughters.

In the churchyard is the stump of an old preaching cross probably dating back to the 15th century, a war memorial garden and an early 16th century timbered framed Church Ale House renovated in 1989 for church and community uses.
 

  • Captivating architecture

  • Fascinating churchyard

  • Glorious furnishings

  • National heritage here

  • Car park at church

  • Ramp or level access available on request

  • Walkers & cyclists welcome

  • Church of England

Contact information

Other nearby churches

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St Giles Priory

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The priory was founded in the 12th century, but the Perpendicular features of the present church date from a 1480s rebuilding by Bishop Alcock of Worcester after he visited the priory to investigate its poor state.

St James the Great

Cradley, Herefordshire

Situated in the Malvern Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, this Grade II* listed church dates back to at least the 12th century.