St James' Church, Staveley
| St James’ Church, Staveley | |
|---|---|
 St James’ Church, Staveley | |
  St James’ Church, Staveley Location within Cumbria | |
| 54°22′48.74″N 2°49′6.86″W / 54.3802056°N 2.8185722°W | |
| Location | Staveley, Cumbria |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| History | |
| Dedication | St James |
| Consecrated | 24 April 1865 |
| Architecture | |
Heritage designation | Grade II listed[1] |
| Architect | J. S. Crowther |
| Groundbreaking | 24 September 1863 |
| Completed | 1865 |
Construction cost | £1,500 (equivalent to £162,900 in 2025)[2] |
| Specifications | |
| Capacity | 300 persons |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | Carlisle |
| Archdeaconry | Westmoreland & Furness |
| Deanery | Windermere[3] |
| Parish | Staveley |
St James' Church, Staveley is a Grade II listed parish church in the Church of England in Staveley, Cumbria.[4] As at 2026, the building is closed following the identification of structural problems in 2025.[5]
Its benefice is united with that of St Martin's Church, Bowness-on-Windermere; St Anne's Church, Ings; St Cuthbert's Church, Kentmere; Jesus Church, Troutbeck and St Mary's Church, Windermere.[6]
History
In the 1860s Staveley's 14th century church was replaced with a new one on a different site. Only the tower of the old church survives. The new church was designed by the architect, J. S. Crowther of Manchester, in Early English style. The foundation stone was laid on 24 September 1863[7] by General Upton, acting on behalf of Hon. Mrs Howard, the Lady of the Manor.
It was consecrated by the Bishop of Carlisle, Rt Revd Samuel Waldegrave on 24 April 1865[8] at which point the only outstanding item was the spirelet.
Stained glass
The Pre-Raphaelite stained-glass windows, made by Morris and Co to designs of Edward Burne-Jones, are agreed to be outstanding. A light from the East Window was reproduced on a Christmas stamp (one of the United Kingdom commemorative stamps of 2009).[9] The Royal Mail's set of Christmas stamps that year marked the impact of the Pre-Raphaelite movement on church windows.
Organ
The church organ was built by Wilkinson and Son of Kendal and inaugurated on 25 September 1866 by Mr Smallwood of St George's Church, Kendal.[10] A specification of the organ can be found on the National Pipe Organ Register.[11]
Incumbents
- William Hudson ???? - 1658
- James Robinson 1676 - 1691
- William Harrison 1691 - 1724
- Thomas Garnett 1724 - 1742
- Isaac Knipe 1742 - 1754
- William Langhorne 1754 - 1757
- George Myres 1757 - 1806
- Peter Strickland 1807 - 1837
- James G. Elleray 1837 - 1858
- William Chaplin (Sen.) 1858 - 1898
- John Hawkesworth 1898 - 1902
- William Chaplin 1902 - 1920
- Ernest W.J. McConnel 1920 - 1943
- Eric E. Oliver 1943 - 1976
- Stephen Swidenbank 1976 - 1985
- John Woolcock 1986 - 1993
- Geoffrey Watson 1994 - 2013
- Shanthi Thompson 2013 - 2021
- Olivia Haines[5]
References
- ↑ Historic England. "Church of St James (1086551)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 16 October 2017.
- ↑ UK Consumer Price Index inflation figures from 1209–2024 based on data from "Inflation calculator". Bank of England. London. 18 February 2026. Retrieved 1 April 2026.
- ↑ "St James, Staveley". A Church Near You. The Church of England. Retrieved 16 October 2017.
- ↑ Hyde, Matthew; Pevsner, Nikolaus (2010). The Buildings of England. Cumbria. Cumberland, Westmorland and Furness. Yale University Press. p. 629. ISBN 978-0-300-12663-1.
- 1 2 "Vicar helping to lead fundraising effort for church". July 2026. Retrieved 15 July 2026.
- ↑ "December 2019/January 2020" (PDF). United Churches Parish Magazine. Retrieved 12 January 2020.
- ↑ "Laying the foundation stone of Staveley New Church". Westmorland Gazette. England. 26 September 1863. Retrieved 16 October 2017 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ↑ "St James' Church, Staveley". Westmorland Gazette. England. 29 April 1865. Retrieved 16 October 2017 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ↑ "Staveley church features on Royal Mail Christmas stamp". November 2009. Retrieved 15 July 2026.
- ↑ "St James' Church, Staveley". Westmorland Gazette. England. 22 September 1866. Retrieved 16 October 2017 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ↑ "NPOR [N03603]". National Pipe Organ Register. British Institute of Organ Studies. Retrieved 16 October 2017.
