St James' Church, Bramley

The Church of St James in Bramley, Hampshire, England was built in the Norman period and has been added to since. It is a Grade I listed building.[1]

St James' Church
LocationBramley, Hampshire England
Coordinates51.3259°N 1.0759°W / 51.3259; -1.0759
Architectural style(s)Norman
Listed Building – Grade I
Official nameChurch of St James
Designated26 April 1957[1]
Reference no.1093029
Location of St James' Church in Hampshire

History

The Norman church had a west tower added in 1636, replacing a previous wooden tower.[2] Part of the nave was added by John Soane in 1802.[1][3]

The parish is part of the benefice of Sherfield on Loddon, Stratfield Saye and Hartley Wespall with Stratfield Turgis, Bramley and Little London within the Diocese of Winchester.[4][5]

Architecture

The flint building has stone dressings and a tiled roof. The walls are supported by buttresses. The south porch and three-stage tower are of red brickwork. Some of the windows in the north wall remain from the original Norman structure.[1]

The interior includes a 13th-century piscina while the screen, benches, pulpit and communion rail are from the 16th to 18th centuries.[1]

Wall paintings
Wall painting on the south wall depicting the martyrdom of Thomas Becket

In the 1870s, Charles Eddy, vicar of the church, uncovered a large number of wall paintings and painted scriptural texts dating to the 13th through 16th centuries which had been whitewashed over in 1550–1551 during the Reformation.[6] The earliest paintings are on the south wall, and depict a series of martyrdoms, the best preserved being a depiction of the murder of Thomas Becket by four knights in 1170. On the north wall is 16th-century depiction of St Christopher which bears a remarkable likeness to contemporary portraits of King Henry VIII. The north wall also has paintings of scriptural texts (John 3:5, Psalm 26 verse 6, and Psalm 95), as well as two consecration crosses. There are also elaborate decorative painted designs in the chancel, around the north and south windows, and on the east wall, with paintings of saints on either side of the east window.[7]

Churchyard

The famous physicist Lise Meitner is buried in the burial ground next to the church,[8] near the grave of her brother Walter.

List of vicars

See also

References
  1. Historic England. "Church of St James (1093029)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 5 October 2018.
  2. "Parishes: Bramley". British History Online. Victoria County History. Retrieved 5 October 2018.
  3. "Bramley, Hampshire: St James' Church, new chapel for Mrs Brocas, 1801-3 (9)". Sir John Soane's Museum Collection Online. Retrieved 5 October 2018.
  4. "The United Benefice of Sherfield on Loddon, Stratfield Saye and Hartley Wespall with Stratfield Turgis, Bramley and Little London. Profile for the appointment of a Priest in Charge" (PDF). S Leonards Church. Retrieved 5 October 2018.
  5. "St James". A Church Near You. Church of England. Retrieved 5 October 2018.
  6. Anon. "Hampshire church wall paintings". Hampshire History. Hampshire History. Retrieved 1 October 2018.
  7. "Bramley Church Wall Paintings". Hampshire History. Retrieved 5 October 2018.
  8. "St James Churchyard". Find a Grave. Retrieved 5 October 2018.
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