St James' Church, Poole
Encyclopedia
St James is a Church of England parish church
in Poole
on the south coast of England
, in the ceremonial county of Dorset
.
The church is located in the historic quarter of the town, near Poole Quay. It is the parish church for the St James sub district of Poole. R. Mason is the current minister of the church. Today the church is still in use by the local population and has a large playgroup.
The church has long been associated with the local fishing trade and is known locally as 'the fishermen's church'. The church has an unusual weather vane
fashioned in the shape of a fish
. The church was mostly rebuilt around 1820, in Georgian
style, although the effigies inside the church date from the 14th century. The church is seen as a good example of English Georgian religious architecture.
ordered eight bells to be sold in aid of Poole's fortification. Unfortunately the bells were lost at sea during passage to Holland.
Church of England parish church
A parish church in the Church of England is the church which acts as the religious centre for the people within the smallest and most basic Church of England administrative region, known as a parish.-Parishes in England:...
in Poole
Poole
Poole is a large coastal town and seaport in the county of Dorset, on the south coast of England. The town is east of Dorchester, and Bournemouth adjoins Poole to the east. The Borough of Poole was made a unitary authority in 1997, gaining administrative independence from Dorset County Council...
on the south coast of England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, in the ceremonial county of Dorset
Dorset
Dorset , is a county in South West England on the English Channel coast. The county town is Dorchester which is situated in the south. The Hampshire towns of Bournemouth and Christchurch joined the county with the reorganisation of local government in 1974...
.
The church is located in the historic quarter of the town, near Poole Quay. It is the parish church for the St James sub district of Poole. R. Mason is the current minister of the church. Today the church is still in use by the local population and has a large playgroup.
The church has long been associated with the local fishing trade and is known locally as 'the fishermen's church'. The church has an unusual weather vane
Weather vane
A weather vane is an instrument for showing the direction of the wind. They are typically used as an architectural ornament to the highest point of a building....
fashioned in the shape of a fish
Fish
Fish are a paraphyletic group of organisms that consist of all gill-bearing aquatic vertebrate animals that lack limbs with digits. Included in this definition are the living hagfish, lampreys, and cartilaginous and bony fish, as well as various extinct related groups...
. The church was mostly rebuilt around 1820, in Georgian
Georgian architecture
Georgian architecture is the name given in most English-speaking countries to the set of architectural styles current between 1720 and 1840. It is eponymous for the first four British monarchs of the House of Hanover—George I of Great Britain, George II of Great Britain, George III of the United...
style, although the effigies inside the church date from the 14th century. The church is seen as a good example of English Georgian religious architecture.
Bell Legend
The church has a long tradition of bell ringing. Local lore has it that during Edward VI's reign, the Duke of SomersetDuke of Somerset
Duke of Somerset is a title in the peerage of England that has been created several times. Derived from Somerset, it is particularly associated with two families; the Beauforts who held the title from the creation of 1448 and the Seymours, from the creation of 1547 and in whose name the title is...
ordered eight bells to be sold in aid of Poole's fortification. Unfortunately the bells were lost at sea during passage to Holland.