Crucified Christ, St James's, Leicester
Apse window in the south chapel by Robert Newbery, c1913.
St James the Greater is a church I'd wanted to see inside for quite some time and does not disappoint those lucky enough to find it open. This is a grand edifice built in 1899-1914 to the designs of H.C.Goddard in a strikingly Italianate style in brick with stone dressings and terracotta flourishes within. Its overall form is inspired by the early Christian basilicas, a long nave with aisles separated from the main body by slender columns and culminating in an apse at the east end. The exterior however is somewhat elusive, being hemmed in by housing aside from the showpiece west facade with its low twin towers topped by cupolas. Originally a soaring tower was proposed for the centre of the facade of a height equal to the length of the church, but this idea was abandoned before it reached roof level (though its lower stages are apparent from within the church).
The interior is an attractive mix of red brick and pale terracotta with sculpted moldings, capitals and applied figures of angels at select points throughout the building. The focal point is the apse which is painted deep blue with gold stars arrayed to accurately represent various constellations. Below is a frieze of saints in relief and further painted decoration in the form of two murals and a handsome reredos. On the south side is a further chapel with an apse with similar adornments in a scaled down form. There are several notable pieces of stained glass here, foremost mention belonging to the four oval-shaped windows in the nave aisles by Theodora Salusbury, Leicester's own stained glass artist of the Arts & Crafts movement.
I had tried several times to get inside this church over the years when passing this way but always found it locked, as it normally is outside of service times and special events. It is however a real gem, one of Leicester's hidden treasures that deserves to be better known and appreciated. My time finally came on Heritage Ride & Stride day when so many normally locked churches are opened, and happily St James's was the first church I encountered on my journey out of central Leicester. It did not disappoint!
Crucified Christ, St James's, Leicester
Apse window in the south chapel by Robert Newbery, c1913.
St James the Greater is a church I'd wanted to see inside for quite some time and does not disappoint those lucky enough to find it open. This is a grand edifice built in 1899-1914 to the designs of H.C.Goddard in a strikingly Italianate style in brick with stone dressings and terracotta flourishes within. Its overall form is inspired by the early Christian basilicas, a long nave with aisles separated from the main body by slender columns and culminating in an apse at the east end. The exterior however is somewhat elusive, being hemmed in by housing aside from the showpiece west facade with its low twin towers topped by cupolas. Originally a soaring tower was proposed for the centre of the facade of a height equal to the length of the church, but this idea was abandoned before it reached roof level (though its lower stages are apparent from within the church).
The interior is an attractive mix of red brick and pale terracotta with sculpted moldings, capitals and applied figures of angels at select points throughout the building. The focal point is the apse which is painted deep blue with gold stars arrayed to accurately represent various constellations. Below is a frieze of saints in relief and further painted decoration in the form of two murals and a handsome reredos. On the south side is a further chapel with an apse with similar adornments in a scaled down form. There are several notable pieces of stained glass here, foremost mention belonging to the four oval-shaped windows in the nave aisles by Theodora Salusbury, Leicester's own stained glass artist of the Arts & Crafts movement.
I had tried several times to get inside this church over the years when passing this way but always found it locked, as it normally is outside of service times and special events. It is however a real gem, one of Leicester's hidden treasures that deserves to be better known and appreciated. My time finally came on Heritage Ride & Stride day when so many normally locked churches are opened, and happily St James's was the first church I encountered on my journey out of central Leicester. It did not disappoint!