Country United Kingdom Vicar(s) Revd. Gaynor Burrett Diocese Diocese of Salisbury Designated as world heritage site 20 November 1959 | Denomination Church of England Reference no. 1120984 Province Province of Canterbury | |
Official name Parish Church of Saint James Similar Encombe House, Purbeck Hills, Isle of Purbeck | ||
The Church of St James is a large Victorian church in Kingston on the Isle of Purbeck, Dorset.
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History
The first church in Kingston, designed by George Repton, was considered unsatisfactory by the 3rd Lord Eldon, and is now a private dwelling. Lord Eldon commissioned G. E. Street to design the new church, which cost £70,000, a huge amount of money.
The church is designed in the Gothic Revival style, common at the time. The church is now known as 'The Cathedral of the Purbecks' and is still a local landmark today. English Heritage have designated it a Grade I listed building.
Bells
The tall central tower, which rises two stories above the roof of the church, contains a peal of 10 bells. The bells were originally a peal of 8, all cast in 1878 by John Taylor & Co but the Treble and Tenor were recast in 1920 by the same people. In 2000, two trebles were added by the same people to make the peal of 10. The Tenor weighs 26cwt 3qrs and 16 lbs or 1366 kg and strikes the note D.