Church of St James, Winscombe
Encyclopedia
The Church of St James in Winscombe
, Somerset
, England has 12th or 13th century origins but the present building dates from the 15th century. It is designated as a Grade I listed building.
There are no records remaining of the Norman
church on the site, but there evidence of the building of the church which was consecrated by Bishop Jocelin
on 26 August 1236. The 4 stage 100 feet (30.5 m) tower was added around 1435, by Bishop John Harewell
, and at the same time stained glass
was added.
The church was restored and a new Chancel added in 1863.
The bells of St James have long called people to worship, the original bells being cast in 1773 by local founders, the Bilbie family
. Two newer bells were added in 1903 by Taylors Founders. The eight bells are in the key of E flat and the tenor weighs 18-1-8 – 18 hundredweight
, 1 quarter of a hundredweight and 8 lb (930 kg). St James holds regular services on Sundays, with bell ringing being provided for both the morning service and evensong
.
Winscombe
Winscombe is a village in North Somerset, England, close to the settlements of Axbridge and Cheddar, on the western edge of the Mendip Hills, south-east of Weston-super-Mare and south-west of Bristol...
, 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 has 12th or 13th century origins but the present building dates from the 15th century. It is designated as a Grade I listed building.
There are no records remaining of the Norman
Norman architecture
About|Romanesque architecture, primarily English|other buildings in Normandy|Architecture of Normandy.File:Durham Cathedral. Nave by James Valentine c.1890.jpg|thumb|200px|The nave of Durham Cathedral demonstrates the characteristic round arched style, though use of shallow pointed arches above the...
church on the site, but there evidence of the building of the church which was consecrated by Bishop Jocelin
Jocelin of Wells
Jocelin of Wells, also known as Jocelinus Thoteman or Jocelin Troteman, was a medieval Bishop of Bath and Wells. He was the brother of Hugh de Wells, who became Bishop of Lincoln. Jocelin became a canon of Wells Cathedral before 1200, and was elected bishop in 1206...
on 26 August 1236. The 4 stage 100 feet (30.5 m) tower was added around 1435, by Bishop John Harewell
John Harewell
John Harewell was a Roman Catholic Bishop of Bath and Wells in medieval England.Harewell came from Harwell in Berkshire . He was in the employ of the Black Prince before being selected, on 14 December 1366, as Bishop of Bath and Wells. He was consecrated on 7 March 1367 and died around 16 July...
, and at the same time 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...
was added.
The church was restored and a new Chancel added in 1863.
The bells of St James have long called people to worship, the original bells being cast in 1773 by local founders, the Bilbie family
Bilbie family
The Bilbie family were bell founders and clockmakers based initially in Chew Stoke, Somerset and later at Cullompton, Devon in south-west England from the late 17th century to the early 19th century....
. Two newer bells were added in 1903 by Taylors Founders. The eight bells are in the key of E flat and the tenor weighs 18-1-8 – 18 hundredweight
Hundredweight
The hundredweight or centum weight is a unit of mass defined in terms of the pound . The definition used in Britain differs from that used in North America. The two are distinguished by the terms long hundredweight and short hundredweight:* The long hundredweight is defined as 112 lb, which...
, 1 quarter of a hundredweight and 8 lb (930 kg). St James holds regular services on Sundays, with bell ringing being provided for both the morning service and evensong
Evening Prayer (Anglican)
Evening Prayer is a liturgy in use in the Anglican Communion and celebrated in the late afternoon or evening...
.