Colesbourne, St James Church

St James Church, Colesbourne

The peaceful River Churn runs through the Gloucestershire village of Colesbourne, dividing the village in two. On the north bank of the river stands the secluded country church of St James and bordering the churchyard to the north stands Colesbourne Park, famous for its remarkable displays of snowdrops in spring.

Historical Highlights

• Elwes family memorial plaques
• 15th-century wineglass pulpit
• 15th-century font
• 14th-century piscina, south transept
• Fragments of medieval glass, west window
• 13th-century doorway with carved heads
• 14th-century glazed tile, east wall exterior

The church interior

History

The church dates to at least AD 1050 and the written record of rectors goes back to 1266. At the time of the Domesday Book in 1086 the estate was held by the Bishop of Worcester but leased to a tenant known as Walter of Gloucester.

In 1095 Walter gave two-thirds of the tithes from Colesbourne to the church of St Owen in Gloucester. Walter's son, Miles, later Earl of Hereford, established Llanthony Priory and by the middle of the 13th century the priory had been granted the advowson of Colesbourne.

Elwes family memorial plaques in the chancel

The medieval church seems to have been dedicated to St Samson, but by 1743 the dedication had changed to St James.

The parish was not always fortunate in its priests; an early 14th-century rector named Ranulph White was imprisoned for murder and other crimes and had to rent out the church farm to pay off debts incurred while in prison.

The medieval building was restored in 1851-52 by JH Elwes of Colesbourne Park, with the work being carried out by David Brandon. The Elwes family vault in the churchyard was pulled down and memorial plaques to generations of the Elwes family were brought inside the church and mounted on the north wall of the chancel.

14th-century glazed tile, east wall

What to see

To find the best historical feature of St James's Church you have to walk around the church exterior to the east end. There, fixed to the wall beneath the east window, is a small glazed tile, roughly 10 inches square, dating to the reign of King Edward II (1307-1327).

The tile depicts the Crucifixion and may have formed part of a medieval reredos. It is now protected from weathering by a wood and glass frame which does, unfortunately, make it more difficult to see clearly.

15th-century wineglass pulpit

Perhaps the most interesting historical feature inside the church is a 15th-century 'wineglass' pulpit. There are thought to be only sixty similar stone pulpits in England, and a third of these are in the Cotswolds. The octagonal font dates to the same period.

The south transept still has its 14th-century roof timbers. Older still are the chancel arch pillars, the only features still remaining from the Norman church. The pillars are decorated in very simple fashion with vertical grooves carved into the stone.

West window with medieval glass fragments

The window in the west wall of the tower may look Victorian, but if you look closely you will see fragments of medieval glass worked into the design. The window is by Thomas Willement (1786-1871), known to history as 'the father of Victorian stained glass.'

In the chancel is a brass plaque to Reverend Frederick Hohler (d. 1871), erected by his children and another plaque to his successor, Reverend T. Atkinson, who died in 1877. Above is a poignant memorial to Reverend Jacob Holmes and four of his children, three of whom died in childhood.

Carved head, south doorway

The south doorway is from the 13th century and boasts very weathered stone figures of a dog and a tonsured monk.

On the nave wall is a simple stone plaque to 12 men of Colesbourne who died in WWI. To this plaque another has been added in memory of two further residents who died in the Second World War.

Medieval cross base in the churchyard

Medieval Cross Base

Outside the east end of the church is a medieval cross base, likely 12th century in date. The cross shaft that once stood on the top step is now gone but a 17th-century sundial is now mounted there in its place.

Look down as you walk up the churchyard path to the south porch and you will see that the path is paved with old gravestones, including several from the early 18th century.

1708 gravestone, churchyard path

Visiting

It isn't easy to find the church, and we turned down several wrong roads before we found the right one. The church is to the north of the A435 (the left as you travel south from Cheltenham in the direction of Cirencester). Turn left off the A road immediately past the pub if you are heading towards Cirencester, or turn right immediately before the pub if you are heading towards Seven Springs and Cheltenham.

The church stands directly beside Colesbourne Park at the end of a cul-de-sac. There is parking space for several vehicles at the end of the road.

This is such an idyllic spot. Though you can hear the sound of traffic on the A435, my overwhelming memory of visiting the church is one of peace and rural calm.