Church of St. James, Taunton
Encyclopedia
The Church of the St. James in Taunton
, Somerset
, England dates from the early 14th century, although an earlier church was located on the same site in the 10th century. The church is dedicated to St. James the Greater. It is a Grade II* listed building.
The church backs onto the Somerset County Ground and forms a familiar backdrop to the Cricket ground.
The waggon roof
above the nave
and north aisle
is medieval. The south aisle and the south porch were rebuilt between 1836 and 1837, with the 111 feet (34 m) west tower following in the 1870s and the chancel
being rebuilt in 1884. The font
dates from the 15th century and the pulpit
from 1633. There are fragments of 15th century stained glass
in the West end.
The iron railings around the churchyard are from the early 19th century.
Taunton
Taunton is the county town of Somerset, England. The town, including its suburbs, had an estimated population of 61,400 in 2001. It is the largest town in the shire county of Somerset....
, Somerset
Somerset
The ceremonial and non-metropolitan county of Somerset in South West England borders Bristol and Gloucestershire to the north, Wiltshire to the east, Dorset to the south-east, and Devon to the south-west. It is partly bounded to the north and west by the Bristol Channel and the estuary of the...
, England dates from the early 14th century, although an earlier church was located on the same site in the 10th century. The church is dedicated to St. James the Greater. It is a Grade II* listed building.
The church backs onto the Somerset County Ground and forms a familiar backdrop to the Cricket ground.
The waggon roof
Barrel vault
A barrel vault, also known as a tunnel vault or a wagon vault, is an architectural element formed by the extrusion of a single curve along a given distance. The curves are typically circular in shape, lending a semi-cylindrical appearance to the total design...
above the nave
Nave
In Romanesque and Gothic Christian abbey, cathedral basilica and church architecture, the nave is the central approach to the high altar, the main body of the church. "Nave" was probably suggested by the keel shape of its vaulting...
and north aisle
Aisle
An aisle is, in general, a space for walking with rows of seats on both sides or with rows of seats on one side and a wall on the other...
is medieval. The south aisle and the south porch were rebuilt between 1836 and 1837, with the 111 feet (34 m) west tower following in the 1870s and the chancel
Chancel
In church architecture, the chancel is the space around the altar in the sanctuary at the liturgical east end of a traditional Christian church building...
being rebuilt in 1884. The font
Baptismal font
A baptismal font is an article of church furniture or a fixture used for the baptism of children and adults.-Aspersion and affusion fonts:...
dates from the 15th century and the pulpit
Pulpit
Pulpit is a speakers' stand in a church. In many Christian churches, there are two speakers' stands at the front of the church. Typically, the one on the left is called the pulpit...
from 1633. There are fragments of 15th century stained glass
Stained glass
The term stained glass can refer to coloured glass as a material or to works produced from it. Throughout its thousand-year history, the term has been applied almost exclusively to the windows of churches and other significant buildings...
in the West end.
The iron railings around the churchyard are from the early 19th century.