St James

Designed by a young itinerant architect named Rhode Hawkins and opened in 1852. It was described by a contemporary as a 'neat little building built of stone in Gothic style', consisting of a chancel, on the north side of which is a vestry, together with a nave, and a wooden open porch on the south side. A Lady Chapel was added in 1962 by Lord Fairhaven of Anglesey Abbey to commemorate his parents. A little open turret rising above the west end of the church contains a single bell. The clock was designed and made by the firm of chronometer makers, Edward Dent of London, who were responsible for the timepieces on the tower of the Houses of Parliament and St Pancras Station.

The stained glass windows on the north side depicting characters from the Gospels, and the large east window representing the Ascension, are dedicated to the memory of John Hailstone, the church’s main benefactor, and were gifts of members of the Hailstone family. The windows on the south side, dedicated to the memory of Henry Huttleston Rogers, were the gift of his grandson, the first Baron Fairhaven. Without doubt, the church owes much of its present beauty and splendour to the late Lord Fairhaven of Anglesey Abbey.

The 17th century chandelier which hangs in the chancel arch and which originally adorned the chapel of Baron von Hugel, the noted philosopher and theologian, the lectern, and the six ornamental hanging lamps identical to a set in York Minster, and designed by his friend Professor Albert Richardson, who was later to become President of the Royal Academy, were all Lord Fairhaven's generous gifts. The Lady Chapel, which was also designed by Professor Richardson, is built of clunch, or Burwell rock, obtained from the quarry at Burwell a few miles away.