OS grid reference SD 526,136 Denomination Anglican Dedication Saint James Phone +44 1257 451332 | Country England Website St James the Great Opened 1857 Architect Edward Graham Paley | |
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Similar St Michael and All Angels C, St Paul's Church - Skelmersdale, St Mark's Church - Blackburn, St Michael's Church - B, St Luke's Church - Winmarleigh Profiles | ||
St James the Great Church is in Church Lane, to the west of Wrightington in Lancashire, England. It is an active Anglican parish church in the deanery of Chorley, the archdeaconry of Blackburn, and the diocese of Blackburn. The church is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade II listed building.
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The Church's community also runs a theatre group, known as 'The St James Players', for people of all age to participate in, and performs an annual play or pantomime in the theatre building directly across from the Church itself.
History
The church was designed by the Lancaster architect E. G. Paley. It was built in 1854, but not consecrated until 1857. As originally built, it provided seating for 400 people.
Exterior
St James' is constructed in sandstone rubble and has a slate roof. Its plan consists of a four-bay nave with a south aisle, a south porch, and a chancel. At the west end is a rose window, above which is a gabled bellcote. Along the north wall of the nave are four pairs of lancet windows, between which are buttresses, and along the south wall of the aisle are three similar windows. The chancel has two lancets in the south wall, and a triple stepped lancet window at the east end.
Interior
Inside the church is an arcade carried on alternate round and octagonal piers. The church has an open timber roof. The two-manual organ was made in 1916 by Jardine of Manchester and modified in about 1985 by Pendlebury of Cleveleys. The authors of the Buildings of England series express the opinion that the church is "nothing special".